Sean Dyche has revealed that a decision has yet to be made about whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin will return against Brentford this weekend.
Calvert-Lewin has not featured for Dyche since being substituted in the second half of his first game as Blues boss against Arsenal at Goodison Park last month. The striker's withdrawal, around the hour mark, was as a precaution over a hamstring issue but Dyche has focused on the need to rebuild his overall condition in the weeks that have followed.
Calvert-Lewin has been plagued by injury problems for the past 18 months. The 25-year-old missed much of last season with a fractured toe and a thigh problem, then sustained a knee injury on the eve of this season that ruled him out for two months.
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So far in 2022-23, he has only managed 12 appearances in all competitions and has only completed the full 90 minutes on three occasions. And although Dyche revealed on Thursday afternoon that the forward was back in training, he refused to confirm whether the England international would be available for Saturday’s game at home to the Bees.
He said: “Dom is around it again with us training but we are still making a decision on when he is truly right to come back in. That will be as the next few days go on.”
Dyche was then asked what he needed to see to declare the forward fit, and he replied: “Just all the markers you can imagine. There is some statistical markers on his history. There are some training markers from his history as well.
“The week that he trained before he got injured and then of course speaking to him as well. It is often the case, especially as players get a little bit older, they start learning more about their bodies.
“It is a tough run he has had, on and off, over the last couple of years, but you do learn more about your body. Speaking to him about making sure he feels right about things as well as the medical team.”
And when asked if the forward could return next week if not this weekend, Dyche said: “It is early yet, he has just gone on the grass with us.
“But he has done a lot of rehab and the stats and facts and the way he is feeling is good. Positive signs that is for sure.”
Vitalii Mykolenko could be available for selection against Brentford after overcoming the illness that saw him miss Sunday’s 2-2 draw away to Nottingham Forest, while Nathan Patterson is still building up his match sharpness after being on the sidelines with a knee injury since the start of January.
“Myko, illness, just making a decision on his strength coming out of illness but he trained today,” Dyche said. “Patto has played another game, but he is still getting that true match sharpness.”
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