Everton are sweating on the fitness of Dominic Calvert-Lewin after the striker was removed from the game with Manchester City as a precaution.
Calvert-Lewin was substituted at half-time after suffering a “tight groin”. Sean Dyche said he hoped the withdrawal of the 26-year-old had prevented any serious damage from developing.
Everton were 2-0 down at the break but the potential absence of the club’s first-choice striker will cause concern heading into the crucial final two games of the season.
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The Toffees are a different side with Calvert-Lewin and have improved dramatically since his return from a long-term hamstring injury. His presence was crucial to the win over Brighton and Hove Albion and the point at Leicester City, in which he scored his second goal of the season.
Those results swung momentum towards Everton in the relegation battle but any long-term issue would now force Dyche to redraw his plans going into the trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers and the home game with Bournemouth.
Speaking after the 3-0 defeat to Man City, Dyche said: "Dom had a tight groin and because of his history we had to get him off. We'll have to wait and see but the hope is he came off before damage was done."
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