Chris Sutton feels Dominic Calvert-Lewin can give Everton the edge against Crystal Palace this Saturday. The striker ramped up his return from injury with his first start last weekend.
Calvert-Lewin missed the start of the Premier League season after sustaining a knee injury in training ahead of their curtain-raiser. The issue kept the 25-year-old on the sidelines for two months and out of seven games. Much to his likely frustrations after last term’s issues.
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The Sheffield-born forward only managed to start 15 of his 17 top-flight appearances over the 2021/22 campaign. Former Toffees boss Rafa Benitez was without Calvert-Lewin from September to January after he suffered setbacks in his recovery from a quadriceps injury.
Frank Lampard was often without Calvert-Lewin after succeeding Benitez at Goodison Park last season, as well. But the forward showed signs of his former self at the end of the term with two goals and an assist. Yet his injury ahead of the new term put paid to his progress.
Eventually, Calvert-Lewin returned to fitness and featured off the bench as Everton lost at home to Manchester United. Lampard again introduced the 11-cap England star from the bench at Tottenham Hotspur six days later. He made his first start of the season last week.
Calvert-Lewin got 73 minutes as he continued his return from injury whilst Everton lost at Newcastle United. However, a lack of service left the striker starved of support at St James’ Park. A yellow card in only the seventh minute also left him having to play with caution.
Sutton feels ‘rusty’ Calvert-Lewin can give Everton an ‘edge’ against Crystal Palace
The quick-fire nature of the Premier League fixture list gives Calvert-Lewin another chance to get minutes under his belt against Crystal Palace. The Eagles travel to Merseyside at the weekend trying to break into the top half of the table. Everton are currently in 15th place.
Sutton is under no illusion that Calvert-Lewin is far from operating at his peak levels. But the former Celtic striker senses the Toffees’ £1.5m signing from Sheffield United in 2016 can be the difference-maker. He can also see the potential importance of a win for Lampard’s side.
“Dominic Calvert-Lewin will still be rusty after just coming back from injury,” Sutton wrote in his BBC Sport column. “But he might give the Toffees the edge.”
He added: “It is not ‘all or nothing’ for Frank Lampard’s side this time. But they do need a good result here after three defeats on the bounce.”
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