Everton manager Sean Dyche has confirmed Dominic Calvert-Lewin is not fit for Sunday’s relegation decider in a potential minor boost for Leeds United.
Dyche was speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Everton’s game with Bournemouth, where he explained Calvert-Lewin and Nathan Patterson will be absent, with Ruben Vinagre, Ben Godfrey and Seamus Coleman already ruled out.
Calvert-Lewin, who Everton were demanding £60 million for last summer, picked up a hamstring injury in last weekend’s draw at Wolves and will be a big miss for the Toffees.
Patterson, Vinagre, Godfrey and Coleman leave Everton with only one full-back in Vitaliy Mykolenko, whose availability is also in question after missing the last two.
Dyche said: “They won’t be fit. We haven’t had Dom for two-thirds of my time here. Patto has more come in latterly, done well. He’s [Mykolenko] a bit better, we’ll see how he reacts to training today.”
Leeds handed potential boost
Leeds will be clinging onto all the hope they have going into the final day and Everton’s task has been no doubt made harder by the absences of the aforementioned players.
Everton don’t really have a like-for-like replacement for Calvert-Lewin and his ability to hold the ball up has been crucial in their recent results at Leicester City and Brighton.
Sam Allardyce’s side go into Sunday requiring a miracle in order to survive and Bournemouth, all be it with nothing to play for, will fancy their chances of ending the season well given Everton’s injury troubles.
If Everton are to lose, Leeds can only save themselves if they beat Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road and West Ham United avoid defeat at Leicester City.
It is certainly a long shot, but a potential glimmer of hope after today’s update.