Latest Everton News: Dominic Calvert-Lewin has returned from an injury lay-off
Everton’s fight for Premier League survival has been boosted by the return of injured striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin to the team for Saturday’s critical away trip to Crystal Palace.
Calvert-Lewin had been out with a thigh injury since the beginning of February, and with Everton hanging barely above the relegation zone, his comeback cannot come soon enough.
“He’ll certainly be in the squad. He’s coming to the end of his rehab period which is brilliant,” Dyche told reporters on Thursday. “My main concern has just been safeguarding his return, his proper return when he his 100% fit.”
Calvert-Lewin played 70 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Everton’s Finch Farm training complex this week. Dyche, on the other hand, indicated he had still to decide whether to start the game at Selhurst Park.
“He will certainly be in my thinking, without a doubt.”
Here is another article that might interest you: Tottenham News Latest: Daniel Levy believes Kane remain at Spurs and win trophies
Everton have 27 points from 31 games, the same as third-bottom Nottingham Forest, and face a Palace side that has stormed away from danger with the return of Roy Hodgson as interim manager following the departure of Patrick Vieira.
Dyche expressed appreciation for Hodgson, whom he regarded as a “top fella,” but warned any pleasantries would be set aside once the whistle blew on Saturday.
“I have a lot of respect for him. But that goes out of the window when the whistle goes,” Dyche, who replaced the sacked Frank Lampard at the end of January, said.
“We’ve got to be aware of how they’ve changed.”
Everton lost their second consecutive Premier League defeat at home to Fulham last weekend, with a performance that showed little to suggest they can pull away from the bottom three.
“The players aren’t stupid, they know when they’ve stepped off. They were as disappointed as I was last week,” Dyche said.
“Things go against you, it’s how quickly you can react.”
Dyche stated that seasoned defender Seamus Coleman will be out due to a thigh injury, although Amadou Onana has returned to training after a groin injury.
