Everton manager Frank Lampard has issued an emphatic declaration over Jordan Pickford’s fitness while providing an update on Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
England number one Pickford had to sit out the Three Lions’ two UEFA Nations League fixtures against Italy and Germany last week after also missing the Blues’ last game against West Ham United with a thigh injury.
Asmir Begovic deputised in goal against David Moyes’ Hammers and kept a clean sheet as Neal Maupay’s strike gave Everton their first Premier League victory of the season. But asked in his pre-match press conference for Saturday’s trip to Southampton whether Pickford was 'good to go', Lampard replied: “Yes. Good news.”
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Calvert-Lewin, meanwhile, hasn’t played all season after suffering what Lampard described as “a freak injury” on the eve of the campaign. The centre-forward was set to return in some capacity against West Ham a fortnight ago but was kept out of the squad as a precaution.
In terms of the 25-year-old’s chances of featuring at St Mary’s, Blues boss Lampard said: “We’re considering it. We’re working to make sure he comes back in the best fitness and strength for us, so we’ll see on that one.
“I think any player who has injuries or a recurrence of injuries like he’s had, he’s had a difficult time, it’s difficult for them to deal with because they’ll want to play and will be frustrated when they don’t play.
“All you can ask for is that players keep doing the right things to get themselves in the best condition, whether it’s rehab or when they get back to being on the pitch and they work around that. Then our responsibility as staff is to work with them and find the best way with a player who has had a few of those injuries so we’re always searching for the best way to get Dominic fit and to keep him fit because we know the level of player, he’s shown that here previously.”
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