Medical insider: Ben Godfrey faces additional six weeks out at Everton
Ben Godfrey may not return to action until Boxing Day (26 December) despite Everton announcing a “three-month” layoff after his leg injury.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
Godfrey, 24, suffered a fractured fibula during last week’s (6 August) opening day loss against Chelsea.
Everton confirmed on Monday (8 August) that the defender faces “around three months” on the sidelines following successful surgery.
Fellow centre-back Yerry Mina is also set for a long-term spell out of the side following his injury – and The Toffees have moved quickly to secure the services of Conor Coady on an initial loan deal.
Dinnery suggested the mid-season break for the World Cup could mean Godfrey’s return to action is pushed back until the end of December – six weeks later than scheduled.
He told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “Comebacks are never set in stone; it just doesn’t work like that.
“Particularly with long-term injuries – they’re never without their little minor setbacks. There are always bumps in the road.
“The reality is, if we look ahead to that winter World Cup, the Premier League season will halt in early November.
“That means it could be December before we see Ben Godfrey return to play, which stretches that timeline beyond four months.
“We’re not talking about timelines governed by duration, it’s all about whether an individual can perform certain tasks or activities.
“Godfrey will have to react well to those activities before he can move on to the next part of his recovery – the timeline becomes irrelevant.”
In other news, pundit backs Everton to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin replacement after source’s reveal.