Insider: Everton are suffering after triple Dominic Calvert-Lewin setback
Frank Lampard is being extra cautious with Dominic Calvert-Lewin this month to help minimize any chance of reinjury or recurrence at Everton.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and spoke exclusively to Football Insider about how Lampard intends to handle Calvert-Lewin over the festive period.
Back in November, Lampard told the Daily Mail (11 November), that he hoped to have Calvert-Lewin back fit for Everton’s Boxing Day clash against Wolves.
The report also revealed that Calvert-Lewin had been struggling with three injuries at once – a dislocated shoulder, a hamstring problem and an aggravated knee injury.
Lampard’s prediction turned out to be wrong, with Calvert-Lewin nowhere to be seen in Everton’s matchday squad against Wolves.
Dinnery believes the Toffees boss is simply taking extra caution with Calvert-Lewin given his injury record.
“There is definitely an element of being cautious,” the injury expert told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“Frank Lampard will want and need Dominic Calvert-Lewin to return to that side and ultimately stay fit for the remainder of the season.
“We’ve seen how badly the Toffees struggle in his absence and the arrival of Neal Maupay hasn’t really remedied any of the striking problems they’ve had so Calvert-Lewin is fairly unique in what he brings to the team.
“The road to recovery for long-term injuries is rarely straight, there are always little setbacks and bumps in the road and particularly for Calvert-Lewin.
“He is on the cusp of a return and ultimately Lampard faced the risk of either throwing him in on Boxing Day or holding him back for a few more days to minimize chance of recurrence or re-injury.
“Ultimately, he’ll be in a better place for the second half of the season as a result. He’s not far away and even if he misses out on the festive period I fully expect him to be in contention and pushing for the matches early in 2023.”
In other news, Gabby Agbonlahor urges Everton to join the race for Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga