Lampard is hopeful Calvert-Lewin will be fit by Boxing Day
Frank Lampard is hopeful Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be fit by Boxing Day as he confirms the Everton star is suffering from THREE injuries at once – a dislocated shoulder, hamstring strain AND an aggravated knee problem
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been through injury hell in the last 18 months
- The striker has suffered from a number of different issues that have kept him out
- Frank Lampard said they were hoping to have him fit and ready for Boxing Day
Frank Lampard has confirmed Dominic Calvert-Lewin is suffering from three injuries at once – with Everton are hoping to have him back for Boxing Day.
The Everton centre-forward has managed just 340 minutes of football this season, and completed 90 minutes just once, after being plagued by a knee injury that he suffered on the eve of the season.
Calvert-Lewin is also facing problems related to a ’10-day’ hamstring injury as well as a dislocated shoulder sustained against Newcastle a month ago and then further aggravated at Fulham at the end of October and last weekend against Leicester.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has endured a tough start to the season that has seen him plagued by a number of injury problems
The hamstring injury, also from the Leicester defeat last week, will keep him out of this weekend’s trip to Bournemouth, the last game before the season breaks for the World Cup in Qatar, but is the knee injury from the summer that continues to cause him the most trouble.
Lampard hopes the break for the World Cup will give them a chance to finally sort his issues.
‘The hamstring is a small injury, it is a 10-day injury, which is slightly irrelevant now,’ added the Toffees boss.
The striker went off against Leicester last week with a dislocated shoulder and a hamstring strain
‘The shoulder was a whack he took against Newcastle (a month ago) and he had a recurrence against Fulham. He has been strapped up a lot and it was something which was looked at by a specialist yesterday and doesn’t need any surgery.
‘He has been getting through with some issues but the knee is probably the most prominent injury that we want to get right, which is similar to what he had before and it’s been aggravated, so this period gives us time to get it back right.
‘We hope the break comes at a good time for him and we expect him back for Wolves on Boxing Day.’
He has only completed 90 minutes once this season – away at Fulham – and has only played 340 minutes
Meanwhile, Lampard and Everton are targeting attacking reinforcements this January window. Last season their susceptibility to shipping goals almost saw them relegated and those issues were largely alleviated in the summer through the signings of Conor Coady and James Tarkowski.
However, the Toffees have scored just 11 goals in 14 Premier League matches – their top scorer is Anthony Gordon with three – and it is an area Lampard knows needs to be addressed.
‘We are certainly considering it in the squad,’ said the former midfielder when asked whether attacking signings were a priority in January.
Everton’s defence has been tightened up with the signings of Conor Coady and James Tarkowski – but their attack continues to struggle
‘When we looked at the (summer) window I knew we had to strengthen throughout the squad in different areas and the priority was to stop conceding and be more solid through midfield.
‘It (attack) may be the next step, considering we haven’t had Dominic as well for a big portion of this season so far, to give ourselves more options in an attacking sense to help the squad.
‘Leicester (last weekend’s 2-0 defeat) is a prime example. It was tightly-contested, 50-50 possession, they have got some really good players and a threat and we missed two really big chances and they scored two amazing goals. Those things in both boxes can be really critical.’
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