Injury expert names exact Calvert-Lewin comeback date after ‘huge’ Everton news
Dominic Calvert-Lewin could make his first Everton start in months in the FA Cup game against Hull City on 8 January next year.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Calvert-Lewin has not featured since fracturing his toe in October before twin muscle problems added to the centre-forward’s plight.
But as quoted by Everton’s media team yesterday (23 December), manager Rafael Benitez revealed “I am pleased to have him back.”
The Toffees face Burnley on Boxing Day, followed by clashes with Newcastle United and Brighton on 30 December and 2 January.
Dinnery predicts that Calvert-Lewin will be gradually reintroduced before starting in the following FA Cup third round match away to Hull.
“We know he was working with the rehab coach at the beginning of the month,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“There has been that gradual integration into the first team and now he is contention, which is huge in the circumstances.
“I wouldn’t expect him to start on Boxing Day even given the fact that Richarlison is on the sidelines again. He has been injured since the end of October.
“We are aware of at least two setbacks in his recovery timeline. They will want to manage him properly after such a long time on the sidelines.
“It will probably be a case of introducing him from the bench. It wouldn’t surprise me if the next three games over the festive period were all about building his fitness from the bench.
“Then he might make his first start in the FA Cup when it’s a lower intensity and the pressure isn’t there.”
Calverti-Lewin scored three times in as many games before his injury at the start of the season.
He is one of 10 players currently sidelined at Finch Farm either through injury or Covid-19.
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