Everton Injury News: Dominic Calvert-Lewin absence explained ahead of Chelsea clash

Everton travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday to face in-form Chelsea, who are looking for their third consecutive win in the Premier League after a turbulent spell. On the other hand, Sean Dyche’s side will look to build on the momentum from their 1-0 win against Brentford, which they secured without their star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The Englishman has been out of action since the game against Liverpool, last appearing against Arsenal where the Toffees won 1-0. Calvert-Lewin has missed more than 50% of the games this season because of injuries. A hamstring injury has seen him miss all but one game under Sean Dyche and the manager has iterated that the 26 year old will not be forced into an early return.

The Toffees have been operating without DCL which has left a significant vacuum up front as Neal Maupay and Ellis Simms has not been able to carry out the responsibility in an effective manner. Everton have also been troubled by injuries in other areas as Nathan Patterson has lacked match sharpness and not featured for the side even though he has returned to training.

Everton Injury News vs Chelsea as Dominic Calvert-Lewin out

Ahead of the Chelsea clash, Dyche addressed the media and gave important injury updates on Calvert-Lewin and others. The former Burnley boss provided an explanation as to why Calvert-Lewin was not present in the training at Finch Farm on Thursday.

"Still monitoring the situation. We are being careful, he’s being careful with his body. Trying to give him every opportunity. He wasn’t overly in my thinking for the Chelsea game. The [International] window comes and we can use it even more wisely.We are just monitoring his body. He has just felt something that we have to be careful with. We are trying to get him as strong as he was two years ago and get back to that statistical level as well. (via club’s official YouTube channel)"

Patterson and James Garner have also returned from long term injuries. Garner has made the Everton bench but Patterson has still remained on the sidelines. He has played a couple of games for the U-21 side in order to get back to the desired level of match sharpness. Dyche also gave an update on the duo.

"In and around it [On Patterson being ready]."

With DCL out of the trip to London, it is likely that Demarai Gray will be given the central role. Dyche also cleared the doubts that Amadou Onana is not playing with a knee niggle and is completely fit.

Will Dominic Calvert-Lewin be ready after the international break?