Medical expert issues ‘surprise’ verdict after Calvert-Lewin update at Everton
It would be a “major surprise” if Dominic Calvert-Lewin does not start for Everton against Newcastle United tonight (8 February).
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 missed Frank Lampard’s first game in charge of Everton, the 4-1 win over Brentford in the Fa Cup last Saturday (5 February).
The 24-year-old goalscorer, who has struggled with various injuries this term, had taken a knock to his knee in training at Finch Farm.
But as quoted by the Liverpool Echo yesterday (7 February), Lampard revealed that Calvert-Lewin is “back in training” and available for selection.
And Dinnery predicts that the new boss will not choose to hold his talisman back for the visit to St. James’ Park this evening.
“I fully expect him to face Newcastle,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“Given the fact that it is Calvert-Lewin, it would be a major surprise if he didn’t start.
“He is the target man. He and Richarlison are the big-hitters for the Toffees.
“It was only a minor knock and he has been training for the last few days. In terms of that sharpness and fitness, that shouldn’t be an issue.
“I suspect if it had been in the league and not the cup at the weekend, he might have played through it.
“But the Fa Cup provided a nice opportunity for him to get a rest. They got the win and confidence is up and he should be back for Newcastle.”
Calvert-Lewin has scored three times in just six appearances this term.
The Toffees will be without Fabian Delph, Tom Davies, Ben Godfrey and Abdoulaye Doucore for tonight’s fixture.
In other news, pundit suggests Lampard has already “fixed” big “problem” at Everton after Abdoulaye Doucoure update.