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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Connor O'Neill

Ben Godfrey provides Everton injury update and makes James Tarkowski and Conor Coady transfer claim

Ben Godfrey has revealed all is 'going well' in his recovery after he suffered a broken leg in Everton's 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea at the start of last month.

Godfrey was stretchered off the Goodison Park pitch after suffering the fracture in the early stages of his side’s season opener. He sustained the injury while challenging Kai Havertz in front of the Gwladys Street end.

The defender has already begun his rehabilitation work at Finch Farm after surgery last month. Blues boss Frank Lampard recently pointed to the lengthy mid-season World Cup break as an opportunity for him to rebuild fitness without missing additional games.

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“All going well, it’s tough mentally, being taken away from playing football but I’m cracking on. Got good people around me, physios and stuff, it’s all going well,” Godfrey replied when asked about his recovery.

Everton brought in eight new senior players to their squad during the summer window as Lampard and Kevin Thelwell looked to overhaul a group that had massively underperformed last season. And when asked how the octet have settled in, Godfrey explained why it is an easy group to join.

He said: “Really well, it’s not a difficult squad to settle in with, characters all over. They’ve settled in well, honest people, they’ve been good.”

Two of the players brought in by Lampard over the summer were James Tarkowski and Conor Coady, and Godfrey explained the impact both have already had on his side.

“Massive, they’ve already changed in terms of personality,” he revealed to BT Sport ahead of Saturday’s Merseyside derby.

“Tark is a talker, he was a captain and same with Connor - I knew him from my England camp but I always remember he was one of the first ones to put his arm around me and made me feel welcome. He’s such a great guy to have around.”

One player Everton also managed to keep hold off was Anthony Gordon. The youngster was continually linked with a move away from Goodison during the summer.

Gordon was first linked with Tottenham Hotspur before Newcastle United were also credited with being interested in signing the youngster. Gordon was then the subject of strong interest from Chelsea, with Everton rejecting a reported £45million bid from the Londoners for the 21-year-old forward.

“He welcomes pressure, he’s a big personality,” Godfrey replied when asked about his team-mate.

“There was a lot of talk about him, the spot lights were on him and I don’t think it phases him one bit. For a man of his age that’s unbelievable.”

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