Everton boss Frank Lampard has suggested that Dominic Calvert-Lewin could make his return from injury on New Year’s Eve against Manchester City.
The England international was unavailable for the Boxing Day visit of Wolves, and has in fact completed 90 minutes of football just once for the Blues so far this campaign.
DCL’s absence has been sorely felt by the Toffees, with a distinct lack of goals a continued problem for Lampard’s side, and summer recruit Neal Maupay evidently unable to operate as a lone striker.
On the possibility of DCL’s availability for the trip to City, the Everton boss said,
“We will see, we have got Dominic hopefully coming back for City, potentially, maybe Brighton.
“You can’t underestimate the strength or power of losing a player of that, who has been a big part of this club for a good few years in terms of a goal return alongside Richarlison.
“So, when you haven’t got that, in isolation that Dominic question is a big one and hopefully he will remain fit for us and then can we help around that to have people who are going to keep pushing and maybe give some different attributes in terms of being more clinical, as simple as that.”
Saturday’s defeat to Wolves was Everton’s fourth on the bounce in all competitions, and a trip to the Etihad promises little other than an extension of the club’s losing streak, barring a miracle.
With the Blues just one place and one point above the relegation zone, a fully fit DCL would be an enormous boost for a club in desperate need of some positive news, though it is clear that investment in our striking options is a must when the transfer window opens.
Indeed, even if Calvert-Lewin is fit enough to face City, there is no doubt that he will find himself in the treatment room again before long, and so a reliable centre forward has to be brought in next month.