Everton played a behind-closed-doors practice match against Manchester United today where Dominic Calvert-Lewin completed his first 90 minutes since playing almost the full game at Brighton in May.
The striker was scheduled to play 70 minutes but ended up finishing the match at Carrington that United won 2-0 thanks to an own goal and a strike from Scott McTominay
Calvert-Lewin is hoping to put his infamous soft-tissue injury struggles behind him following a summer of patient rehab work and today’s workout is likely to be regarded as the final step before he can resume Premier League action, hopefully against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Arnaut Danjuma, Vitalii Mykolenko, Ben Godfrey and Jarrad Branthwaite also boosted their fitness with run-outs.
Everton travel to Villa Park this weekend hoping not only that Calvert-Lewin can play a part but that they can also pick up their first points of the new season after Saturday’s disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Fulham.