New Everton manager Sean Dyche has highlighted “the key” to solving Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fitness issues while offering injury updates on three other players. Calvert-Lewin headed in the winner in Carlo Ancelotti’s first game as Everton manager on Boxing Day 2019 against Dyche’s Burnley side, one of 15 goals he scored that season and he’d go on to net 21 times the following season but his past two campaigns have been stop-start affairs due to a series of ailments.
The Blues number nine missed four months of the 2021/22 campaign with an adductor problem while he went into the World Cup break this term nursing no fewer than three separate injuries (shoulder, knee and hamstring) and like fellow striker Neal Maupay he has just one goal to his name so far in 2022/23. Asked about Calvert-Lewin’s condition, Dyche said: “He’s had his ups and downs with fitness, I’m aware of that. Getting him truly fit and his body strong enough is going to be the key.
“I’ve spoken to him, I think he’s a lot closer than he felt he was. Obviously he’s an important player but there are lots of important players here.
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“It’s not just him but with his scoring record here and his level of performance not so long ago before the injuries hit him, he’s a very good player without a doubt.”
Everton host Premier League leaders Arsenal in Dyche’s first game on Saturday but while some of his other squad members are on the road to recovery, he remained coy as to when they might actually return. The 51-year-old said: “Ben Godfrey’s closer, Michael Keane is getting fitter and has trained, Garner’s is going to be a little bit yet.”
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