Everton played Serie A side AC Monza in a behind-closed-doors friendly today at Goodison Park where Dominic Calvert-Lewin came through a half’s worth of action as he seeks to build fitness ahead of the new season.
The striker has been on a patient rehabilitation programme this summer, with the club’s medical staff trying to give him the best possible chance of achieving consistent fitness after almost two years of frustrating set-backs.
He visited a specialist facility in Germany earlier this summer and has now played his first pre-season minutes as the Blues drew 2-2 with the Italians, with Lewis Dobbin and Neal Maupay finding the scoresheet.
Vitalii Mykolenko also played as he works his way back from his own injury problems and new arrival Arnaut Danjuma played 75 minutes but Dwight McNeil was absent as the club assess the extent of the knee injury he picked up in the friendly at Stoke.
With the new season 11 days away, Sean Dyche is assessing his squad while work continues on trying to acquire transfer targets.
With regard to Calvert-Lewin’s continual challenges, and the perennial question: Will he be ready to face Fulham? – Dyche said:
“We’ll wait and see. We’re taking it a day at a time because, as everyone knows, he’s had a tough period of it. So it’s making sure we’re not overloading him and he’s well in himself.
“He’s going well. He trained with us last week and is still crossing over between training and getting the extra fitness work he needs in.
“From what I’m told of his session [at Finch Farm on Saturday], it went well. And that was quite a heavy session.
“We’re happy with that and he seems to be in a good place, so we’re hopeful we can carry on building from that.”
There has been no news of Vitalii Mykolenko’s situation, while Andre Gomes has only featured for 45 minutes in one of the pre-season fixtures. While silence continues regarding the future of £23m ‘asset’, Jean-Phippe Gbamin, who has claimed he won’t play again for Everton, despite his contractual commitment until June 2024.
Seamus Coleman continues his rehabilitation from the knee surgery required on the injury he picked up last season.
“I am just working away in the gym, rehab, and getting it strong again,” he said, “but everything is going well and everything is going to plan. I’m looking forward to getting back whenever that is.”
Everton: Virginia; Higgins (75′ Welch), Godfrey, Branthwaite, Mykolenko (46′ Hunt); Garner, Onana; Onyango, Dobbin, Danjuma (77′ Kouyate); Calvert-Lewin (46′ Maupay).
Subs: Crellin, Astley, Okoronkwo.