Pickford out for three games in latest Everton injury nightmare
In just about the worst possible news for Everton, the club have confirmed goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will likely miss at least the next three Premier League matches with a thigh strain.
Everton supporters could be forgiven for thinking there is some sort of supernatural intervention going on to explain the unpreccedented number of injuries to key players this team suffers!
Pickford’s problem comes on the back of a horrendous run of injuries over the last month or so. It started of course with the Blues’ losing their first-choice striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, before a ball had even been kicked in the new season.
Then Frank Lampard lost two starting centre-backs, Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina on the opening day and since then another, Mason Holgate, as well midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, all with the season barely a month old.
As if that’s not all enough, the third choice keeper Andy Lonergan is also hurt! While he was not likely to play, it’s quite incredible timing and it is enough to make any Toffees’ fan think that the stars themselves are aligned against the club.
It also comes after the last two seasons were blighted so much by injury, which undermined what the team could achieve.
Yes it’s true that Rafa Benitez’s mindset, tactics and team selection played a big part in the side’s collapse in form last season. But, he was also unlucky with injury, in particular losing Calvert-Lewin just as the bargain basement attack he had built around him was actually firing.
And of course, his predeccesor Carlo Ancelotti, had terrible injury luck losing every single first-team squad player at one time or another during the previous campaign.
Ancelotti’s team had been pushing for a European place late in that season and those injuries played a part in denying Everton such a finish.
Well, the current manager now has to turn to and trust in Pickford’s deputy Asmir Begovic (and hope he stays healthy!) to see the side through at least the next two Premier League games against Arsenal and West Ham United before the international break.
Losing Pickford now could hardly be at a worse time, with the team desperately in need of that elusive first win of the season.
Now, they are travelling away to an Arsenal team leading the league at a ground they never win at, without arguably their most important individual player.
Last weekend at Goodison Park, Pickford reminded everyone just how good he is and how fundamental he is to this Everton team.
He produced a simply superb display of goalkeeping between the sticks, making world class save after save to keep Liverpool out.
The home team certainly had plenty of great chances themselves, but let’s be honest if Pickford hadn’t produced those moments of excellence then it’s possible the Blues’ might have lost by two or three goals.
Had Pickford been fit, with Maupay having had a game under his belt alongside the rest of the side which performed so well overall in the derby and even whisper it a possibly a fit Calvert-Lewin, I might have felt there was an outside chance the Toffees’ could overcome their Arsenal hoodoo on Sunday.
Now though, it looks less likely. Begovic is a good and very expereinced shot-stopper and he will need to be at his best because Everton really do need to find a way to start turning draws into wins very soon.