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Post by Everton News. on Dec 23, 2022 12:48:23 GMT
Frank Lampard has revealed it "is going to be tight" for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to be available for the Boxing Day clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Goodison Park - but the Blues have no further injury concerns for their return to Premier League action.
Calvert-Lewin will train over the next few days before a decision is made on his availability, as he continues to be closely monitored following a knee injury.
Lampard also confirmed winger Andros Townsend has sustained 'a slight setback' in his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament knee injury and will not be available for upcoming games.
That leaves James Garner (back) as the only other absentee, with the midfielder due back in February.
Lampard said: "It’s going to be tight with Dominic for Wolves. He’s going to be training the next few days. I'm trying to push him a bit for match fitness. The injury feels good, which is the best news. The last thing I want to do is to go too soon with him.
"That's the question mark over Wolves with Dominic, and we have a lot of games coming up.
"With Andros, he's had a bit of a setback so won't be available for these next few games."
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Post by Everton News. on Dec 23, 2022 14:45:06 GMT
Frank Lampard has opened up on the “strength and confidence” Goodison Park provides his Everton side as the Blues prepare to restart their Premier League campaign at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day (3pm GMT).
Speaking on Friday afternoon at his pre-match press conference, the Everton manager also revealed the Club is “close” to agreeing new deals for key players Jordan Pickford, Alex Iwobi and Anthony Gordon.
The Blues go into Monday’s contest 17th in the league standings and looking to bounce back from two successive Premier League defeats against Leicester City and Bournemouth before the break.
Lampard believes Goodison Park can play a crucial role in kick-starting the second half of the campaign on a positive note while admitting he expects his team to have a “freshness” about them following a positive break for the World Cup.
“It always has been and always will be,” said Lampard when discussing how important Goodison is to his Everton side.
“For sure in my time here, we have had some incredible results at Goodison.
"That’s been because of the playing performances and fans joining in, creating this atmosphere that Goodison has had throughout history, so it’s a big deal for us. It gives us strength and confidence.“
On the break, the boss said: “For me has been a good one, I have personally enjoyed it and when I speak for myself, I hopefully speak for the players in terms of we went to Australia, we had a good trip, we won a couple of games and we saw our fan base out there.
“We then had a break from training which was really good for everyone, and then we have been working on things that we know we can improve on. Generally, and in particular on how we finished, the two games against Bournemouth,” he added.
“Before that, I think we were making good strides in a lot of ways, but people’s minds can get drawn to those two games, we have to think bigger than that and keep working.
“There have been certain challenges in terms of scheduling and the workload being staggered for different players, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing.
“Freshness of mind sometimes and having a break is a good thing. We forever talk about how busy our schedule is, and then something comes and breaks the schedule up and you can use it in a positive way.
“I think we have done that, there have been challenges, but I hope to see a team run out that has a freshness about them, an energy and fitness as a basic point.”
He continued: “I don’t think we need a fresh start necessarily, a nice break adds some freshness in us, but we know what all the targets are, we know the games that are ahead of us and same as before the break, we want to win them.“
Lampard also revealed that the Club are close to finalising new deals for Pickford, Iwobi and Gordon. When asked about how the negotiations were progressing, the boss said things were getting “close” to a conclusion.
“Hopefully we’re in the situation where we want the players to stay and they want to say here, that’s always been the feeling, we are very close.”
Lampard also opened up on the prospect of Everton doing business in the January transfer window, admitting: “In the January window, we want to help the squad, we want to have more options in forward areas.”
“If the right players become available in those areas, then we have to try and improve because we’ve had Dominic injured for a large part of the season and it’s an area where we want more.
“We have to be smart, our situation is clear. Some other clubs are making moves in their own ways, we have to be smart in how we do it,” he added.
“More than that, concentrate on what we have in the building, the players we already have. How much are they prepared to fight and play well every day, that’s my main concern.
“But for sure when the window opens, we will be looking to improve where we can.”
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Post by Everton News. on Dec 26, 2022 14:44:59 GMT
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Post by Everton News. on Dec 26, 2022 14:45:50 GMT
Yerry Mina starts for Everton in the Blues’ Boxing Day clash with Wolves at Goodison Park.
The Colombia international is drafted into Frank Lampard’s starting line-up in the absence of Conor Coady, who is ineligible to play against his parent club.
James Tarkowski pairs Mina at the heart of Everton’s defence, while Vitalii Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson start as full-backs and Jordan Pickford is named in goal.
Idrissa Gana Gueye and Amadou Onana, who both participated in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, form a midfield pivot, with Alex Iwobi, Dwight McNeil and Anthony Gordon starting in more advanced roles.
Neal Maupay spearheads the Toffees’ attack, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin missing out on the matchday squad as he continues to build fitness.
Fit-again Ben Godfrey and in-form young forward Tom Cannon are named on the bench, alongside Asmir Begovic, Mason Holgate, Demarai Gray, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Seamus Coleman, Tom Davies and Ruben Vinagre.
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Post by Everton News. on Dec 26, 2022 19:06:52 GMT
Everton were dealt a cruel last-gasp blow as they fell to a 2-1 defeat in a Boxing Day encounter with Wolves at Goodison Park. After 45 days since the last Premier League clash, the Blues took less than seven minutes to open the scoring as Yerry Mina nodded in an opener after Dwight McNeil's inviting corner. But the visitors - in their first league clash under new manager Julen Lopetegui - hit back through Daniel Podence's close-range effort midway through the first half. Everton shaded this competitive contest throughout but were hit with a devastating counter punch in the final minute of second half stoppage time when substitute Rayan Aït-Nouri bundled home from close range to snatch all three points for the visitors. Mina, drafted into Frank Lampard's starting line-up in the absence of Conor Coady who was ineligible to play against his parent club, was one of two changes from the side defeated at Bournemouth last time out, with Anthony Gordon also returning in place of Demarai Gray. The Colombia international wasted no time in making his presence felt, brushing off his marker before heading home McNeil's in-swinging corner to provide Everton with a dream start. That early strike energised Goodison - highlighted by the volume of the roar for Gordon's crunching challenge on Hugo Bueno seconds after the restart. But Wolves regained composure and were back on level terms on 22 minutes when, following a training ground routine, Ruben Neves lifted the ball back into the danger area, allowing Podence to slot home a simple finish. The Toffees responded well to that setback, though, and threatened the Wolves goal without being able to apply a clinical finish. Gordon came closest after a superb passage of play, but Sá reacted well to apply a save down low to deny the Everton winger after a defence-splitting pass by Idrissa Gana Gueye. The second half was a more even contest, with both sides pushing for all three points to climb a congested Premier League table. Everton, again, looked the most likely but chances continued to come at a premium. Both sides rolled the dice in the way of changes as the half wore on. Demarai Gray was the first to be introduced 10 minutes after the interval, before in-form young striker Tom Cannon and Abdoulaye Doucoure were brought on for the closing stages as Lampard chased victory. Ben Godfrey also came on for his first appearance since suffering a fractured fibula on the opening day of the season as he replaced the injured Mina. Godfrey went close to notching a winner with eight minutes remaining but, after Gray's free-kick delivery had caused chaos in Wolves' penalty area, the defender's prodded effort was cleared off the line. But, in the dying embers with Everton committing men forward, Adama Traore led a counter-attack before Aït-Nouri managed to control the Spaniard's cross before lashing home a late, late winner. Next up for Lampard's side is a trip to The Etihad to take on reigning champions Manchester City on New Year's Eve (3pm GMT kick-off). Everton FC
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