Sean Dyche has provided an update on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and revealed the forward will not be available to face Leeds United this weekend.
Calvert-Lewin featured in Dyche’s first game in charge of Everton, the 1-0 win over Arsenal, but was ruled out of Monday’s 2-0 derby defeat to Liverpool. Ellis Simms was selected to lead the line in the forward’s absence.
The 25-year-old has been plagued by injury problems for the past 18 months. He 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 this season, he has only managed 12 appearances in all competitions and has only completed the full 90 minutes on three occasions. And when asked if he was going to be fit to face Leeds this weekend, Dyche revealed he was not.
He said: “No, the root of the problem is pretty easy for the medical side of things and now it is just time and make sure his body is well.
“We have other good players here and it is more important to focus on them at this stage because facts are facts and Dom's not available. So until he is, my focus will be on who is available and the team unit which is always more important.”
Dyche then continued, saying: "While he's out, we want him to do work to strengthen the whole body, not just the injured site.
"That's the process to go through for a player being injured and getting them back on the pitch when they're fully fit and clear. But then they will still need some training days.
"Because when you train under control with physios, it's a different type of training. But when you train with the first team, it's reactive. You have to react and be proactive.
"You can control different ways of coming back from injuries, when bodies are free and clear, getting that natural movement pattern. That can take a bit of time. He [Dom] hasn't been out that long, so you'd hope that would happen quite quickly."
Neal Maupay replaced Calvert-Lewin against the Gunners at the beginning of the month, but Ellis Simms was given the nod to lead the line at Anfield on Monday night. While Demarai Gray is another option who could play up top.
“I think the mentality has to be you score as a team and you hope not to concede as a team, obviously,” Dyche said when asked about his options.
“But the framework of the team is important, so it's not just about the individual players, it's about putting players in an area to score goals, whoever that may be.
“The whole team has a responsibility to score, as we did against Arsenal with a good set-piece. Obviously you do want players fit but it's the mentality of the whole group that's important.”
Dyche also confirmed that James Garner and Nathan Patterson will play for Everton's under-21s on Friday night as they close in on returns. Paul Tait's side take on Tottenham Hotspur at Southport's Haig Avenue.
"A couple of the lads will play tomorrow, which I am going to watch," Dyche revealed. "Jimmy will play tomorrow, and Pato (Nathan Patterson) will play as well. So I will get over and watch them for the first time.
"They are not there yet, but they have been on the grass with us. Next is to put it into game practice."
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