Calvert-Lewin injury blow rocks Everton

Updated August 4 2022 - 11:28pm, first published 11:26pm
Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been ruled out for six weeks on the eve of the season. (AP PHOTO)
Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been ruled out for six weeks on the eve of the season. (AP PHOTO)

Having narrowly survived relegation last season English Premier League ever-presents Everton face a worrying start to the new campaign with star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin sidelined for six weeks.

The 25-year-old England striker sustained what manager Frank Lampard called a "freak" knee injury in training ahead of Everton's Saturday fixture against Chelsea at Goodison Park.

Calvert-Lewin's injury leaves the Toffees short on options up front after Richarlison was sold to Tottenham, while Salomon Rondon is suspended for the visit of Lampard's former club.

"Losing a player of Dominic's quality in the week going into the first game is obviously going to affect you," said Lampard on Thursday.

"We are probably looking at around six weeks for the injury. It has been assessed over a couple of days and that is where we are at.

"We will have to work around it. Other players will have to step up and do the job and hopefully that six weeks passes relatively quickly and we get Dominic back."

The injury is likely to keep Calvert-Lewin out for seven matches, including the home Merseyside derby with Liverpool on September 3.

It will also be a blow to his hopes of regaining a spot in the England squad with the World Cup in Qatar starting in November.

Calvert-Lewin missed four months of last season with a persistent muscle injury and was restricted to just 17 Premier League appearances, scoring five times. In his absence Everton struggled and were almost relegated from the top tier for the first time since the 1950s.

Australian Associated Press