Everton boss Sean Dyche has now provided an update on the injury to 26-year-old Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was substituted at half-time during yesterday’s defeat to Man City.
The England international was producing another impressive display upfront for the Toffees, but did not remerge for the second half, with £15m summer signing Neal Maupay taking his place.
Indeed, Dyche has said that he’s ‘hoping’ that DCL will be available for Everton’s remaining fixtures, indicating that his withdrawal yesterday was merely a precaution.
Speaking with the official Everton website, Dyche said: “Dom got a tight groin and quite obviously I can’t take a risk on that so we had to change that at half-time.”
He continued: “We’re hoping it’s a precaution. He felt his groin but nothing too drastic so I said, ‘Right, that’s it’, because of his record.
He was touch and go whether he wanted to carry on but I said I had to make a call on that and took it out of his hands, so hopefully that’s going to be effective over the next few days and he’s ready to go again.”
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Fans hope strategic sub from Dyche allows Calvert-Lewin to see out PL survival battle
Everton were unlucky to find themselves 2-0 down at the interval after keeping Pep Guardiola’s side at bay for much of the opening period, but two goals in two minutes from Ilkay Gundogan and Erling Haaland gave City a comfortable lead.
Gundogan added a third just six minutes into the second half as the game suddenly became about damage limitation for Everton, with goal difference in mind.
Indeed, Everton sorely missed DCL throughout the second half, but withdrawing him from a game probably beyond our reach at half-time, in favour of him being fit for the weekend was the correct call from Dyche.
Everton have an important trip to Wolves on Saturday, and Calvert-Lewin must be fit to start that game for the Toffees.