Could Selhurst Park be the scene of Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s long-awaited return as Everton go to Crystal Palace for a crucial Premier League fixture?
Everton’s number nine hasn’t played for the senior side since he came off an hour into their 1-0 victory against table-topping Arsenal at Goodison Park back on February 1 in Sean Dyche’s first match in charge. However, following comments from the Blues boss after his side’s 3-1 home defeat to Fulham last Saturday that “Dom’s going well”, Calvert-Lewin got a 70-minute run-out in a behind closed doors training match at Finch Farm against Chester on Tuesday.
With Everton in search of an overdue away victory to boost their survival hopes, Dyche might now be tempted to restore his number nine to the starting line-up in south London given that Ellis Simms is the only player operating as a striker to score from open play – when coming on as a substitute at Chelsea – during his tenure so far. Both Neal Maupay and Demarai Gray, who moved out wide when the Blues switched from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1 against the Cottagers drew a blank last time out so both of them will be looking over their shoulders.
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There will also be question marks about Everton’s defence after both full-backs suffered difficult afternoons against Marco Silva’s side – with Vitalii Mykolenko criticised for his failure to stop Harry Wilson in the build-up to the visitors’ first goal and Ben Godfrey forced to go off with concussion after already having been given the run-around by veteran Brazilian Willian. James Tarkowski and Michael Keane didn’t cover themselves in glory for Fulham’s third goal either as the centre-back pair allowed Daniel James to nip in between them both and score so the likes Yerry Mina, Conor Coady, Mason Holgate and Seamus Coleman – if the captain is fit again – might all be in with a chance of forcing their way into the back four.
Abdoulaye Doucoure serves the final match of his three-game suspension in midfield but Everton will hope that Amadou Onana is back from injury after he was sorely missed last time out with Idrissa Gueye and James Garner finding themselves overrun in the centre of the park so depending on what system Dyche chooses to go with, Alex Iwobi might move into the middle again or Tom Davies could be drafted in with goalscorer Dwight McNeil set to remain out on the wing regardless.
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