Dominic Calvert-Lewin injury latest: Everton striker ‘has to be careful’ ahead of Toffees return for Premier League relegation run-in

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the only natural goalscorer in Everton’s squad and Sean Dyche has been deprived of his services.

The England international hasn’t played a game for the Toffees since their 1-0 win over Arsenal in Dyche’s first match in charge.

Since then, the ex-Burnley gaffer has had to field Neal Maupay, Ellis Simms or even winger Demarai Gray in a lone striker role.

Goals have started to come for the Toffees in recent weeks with Simms and Gray both on the scoresheet, however, Calvert-Lewin’s return would still be crucial to their survival hopes.

With Everton in relegation trouble, they could do with their main striker back as they prepare to face managerless Tottenham on Monday, live on NaijaOnPoint.

When will Calvert-Lewin return?

Calvert-Lewin does not have a set date for his return.

He was withdrawn just after the hour against Arsenal in February with a hamstring problem.

Initially, it was thought this was a precaution, but the forward wasn’t has missed every game since.

The 25-year-old has made 11 Premier League appearances this season and only scored once.

However, he has managed to score 46 top-flight goals, so he is a threat and could save the Toffees from relegation.

He missed 18 league matches last season with various problems, and then picked up a knee injury at the start of this campaign that kept him out until October.

And Dyche is keen to avoid any further long-term issues, so will be patient in allowing his striker to recover.

“We’ll see,” he said in response to when Calvert-Lewin will return ahead of Everton’s last match against Chelsea.

“There’s nothing other than me wanting to get him out there training every day and feel good about that. That’s the best start point and take it from there.

“He has felt something we have got to be careful with that’s all, and he has to be careful with.

“He wasn’t overly in my thinking for the Chelsea game regardless of anything else because [then] the international break comes and we can hopefully use that more wisely.

“We are trying to get him as strong as he was two years ago and back to that statistical level as well in terms of how we think and how he feels.”

Now that the international break has passed, Calvert-Lewin may have been allowed to recover enough to make his comeback in the near future.