Everton have been hit with a double injury blow ahead of the Merseyside Derby on Sunday afternoon.
What’s the word?
Frank Lampard has taken to his pre-match press conference (via Liverpool World) to deliver an update on two fresh injury issues at Finch Farm, with Donny van de Beek and Andre Gomes now both ruled out of the derby, alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Lampard told the press: “We’ve got a couple of small injuries. Donny van de Beek won’t be fit, he’s got a small injury, in his groin/ pelvic area. Andre Gomes the same. That keeps him out of the weekend.”
Lampard will be gutted
There is no doubt that the Toffees boss will be gutted to lose two players to injury at this stage of this season, especially considering the position they have found themselves in – battling against relegation from the Premier League.
With seven games to go, Everton are only above the relegation zone by one point following Burnley’s victory over Southampton on Thursday, and it will certainly cause a headache for Lampard to lose players at such a delicate time – with both midfielders’ injuries weakening his squad depth in midfield yet again.
Van de Beek had only just returned to fitness a little over a week ago after sustaining a thigh injury, but has not featured since the Wolves defeat in March – with the Man United loanee only making six appearances in total since he joined the club in January.
Meanwhile, Gomes has only played three times since Lampard joined the club, so, although he will be a miss in terms of depth on the bench, it shouldn’t make a huge impact on the starting side unless there are further injuries to the midfield.
Finally, Calvert-Lewin has only made 14 appearances this season and hasn’t scored a single goal since August last year.
Indeed, despite returning from a long term quad injury in January the star striker has failed to refind his goal-scoring form, and could now potentially be sidelined again until the end of the season.
Was Donny Van de Beek a bad signing?
With that being said, all three have made minimal impact on the side as of late so Lampard should have enough quality to continue to pick up points in the league, with the 43-year-old manager undoubtedly be hoping his side can get a much-needed result at Anfield.
AND in other news: Frank can finally axe “out of control” EFC flop by signing “outstanding” £18k-p/w star
