Everton manager Frank Lampard has confirmed that goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will miss their FA Cup quarter-final at Crystal Palace on Sunday. Both Pickford and on-loan Donny van de Beek were absent from the Blues’ 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Thursday through illness and Lampard revealed neither has yet recovered.
He said: “Donny’s still not well but he’s cup-tied anyway. Jordan won’t be fit for the game. In terms of injuries it’s a bit more of an assessment of how the players were because it’s a really quick turnaround.
“We haven’t been helped by the timing of the game, 12:30pm, I think the broadcasters picked the big boys, as they see it, to play with the big numbers later in the afternoon when it would have been better for us but we have to dig in and deal with that. We’ll assess the players over the next 24 hours but other than that it’s as is.”
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With England number one Pickford unavailable against the Magpies, Asmir Begovic, a veteran of more than 250 Premier League appearances stepped in and produced a convincing display to keep a clean sheet.
Lampard said of the 34-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international: “It’s one of the most-difficult positions in the squad as a number two goalkeeper, particularly when your Asmir and you have the qualities he has – he’s a number one in my opinion. But the way he prepares, the way he trains and the way he carries himself as an experienced member of the squad means that he’s always ready.
“There’s no doubt about that from the way he is every day. He exuded calm, collecting balls, came and made catches and was really good for us. I’m very fortunate to have the group of goalkeepers we have at this club. Not just him but the whole group of goalkeepers is strong and brilliantly coached by Alan Kelly as well. So that’s a strong part of the squad.”
