Everton handed injury boost ahead of Crystal Palace clash

Sean Dyche has been handed an injury boost to his Everton side ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash at Crystal Palace.

Forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has been missing since the first game of Dyche’s Everton reign, has returned from a hamstring injury and played 70 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly defeat against National League North side Chester.

The 26-year-old has been sidelined with a hamstring injury. England international Calvert-Lewin has scored 59 goals in 203 appearances for the Toffees.

Palace have won three games in a row under Roy Hodgson since he returned to the club and are nine points clear of the bottom three.

Everton are 17th in the Premier League and above the drop on goal difference. 

“He’ll certainly be in the thinking, without a doubt,” Dyche said of including Calvert-Lewin in his squad for Saturday’s match at Selhurst Park.

“The game the other day was all about him. We were pleased he came through that and he felt good. 

“My main concern has been safeguarding his return, his proper return as I call it, when he is as fit as we can get him without playing. It was my decision to take him off, there was no fatigue or anything. I just thought it made sense to bring him off after 70-odd minutes.”