Frank Lampard has provided a fresh injury update on his Everton side ahead of their midweek match against Crystal Palace at Goodison Park.
The Blues suffered a 3-2 loss against Brentford on Sunday that leaves them two points above the relegation places with two games to play. Both Salomon Rondon and Jarrad Branthwaite were sent off against the Bees, with the latter’s dismissal after just 18 minutes making Everton's job all the more difficult.
The centre-back will now miss the match against Palace on Thursday night, while Lampard confirmed in his post-match press conference after Brentford that both Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina would be unavailable due to injury. Michael Keane was absent from Sunday’s defeat due to illness meanwhile but is expected to be back in time for the visit of the Eagles.
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“Michael was sick overnight, so we are hoping it is a short-term one and he will recover for Thursday,” said Lampard, via Liverpool Echo. “Otherwise, probably, our other centre-backs won’t be fit in time for that. We have three centre-halves out and it's very hard to sustain results like that. We will fight until the end no matter what bodies we have left.”
Crystal Palace meanwhile will be without winger Michael Olise after Patrick Vieira confirmed the youngster would miss the rest of the season after picking up an injury. Olise was absent from Palace’s matchday squad on Sunday as they drew 1-1 with Aston Villa along with midfielder James McArthur and goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.
The Eagles went behind in the second half at Villa Park when Ollie Watkins wrestled with Marc Guehi in the box before poking the ball past Jack Butland from close range. Substitute Jeffrey Schlupp ensured Palace would get at least a point ten minutes later though as he forced the ball over the line following a header from Guehi.
“I’m really happy with the performance,” Vieira said afterwards. “I think from the first minute, we played well and we managed to control the game. We showed quality and character to get back into the game and get the point.”
He added: “We didn’t deserve to concede the goal. We showed quality and character to fight and find the strength to get back into the game and score the goal.”
