Mason Holgate is back in the Everton squad to face Newcastle United on Wednesday evening, Frank Lampard has revealed.
But the Blues will still be without fellow defender Yerry Mina, who has suffered a minor setback in his rehabilitation from an ankle injury.
Everton are looking to put Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur behind them when they travel to face Eddie Howe's Magpies on Tyneside tomorrow. A win for the Blues could lift them into the top half of the table and close the gap behind their currently sixth-placed opponents to just two points.
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And Lampard shared an injury update in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday morning, which also included some positive news about Ben Godfrey. The Everton manager said said: "Yerry had a small issue in his rehab, so he won't be (involved). Mason is in the squad, so progressing with that. Ben Godfrey is also on the training pitch, small (steps), but great to see. Early stages."
Lampard was also asked if key striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was ready to start matches or if he still needed to be given limited minutes after he completes his return from a lengthy lay-off.
Lampard said: "Bit of both. We've got to be careful with Dominic, making sure we gradually bring him in but as quickly as possible. It's a fine balance that one. But he's getting to the stage. We've got two games in three days coming up so hopefully we can get more minutes out of him."
Having missed most of the start of the season, the 25-year-old faces an uphill battle to make it into Gareth Southgate's England squad for the World Cup next month. And although Lampard believes that a fully fit Calvert-Lewin is firmly in the conversation, the Blues boss was reluctant to pile any additional pressure on to one of his most potent attacking assets.
Lampard added: "It's human nature and it's a the natural mentality of top level players. They want to play for their countries, but the rules are they you play well for your club first to get there. And because of Dominic's injuries, that's probably put him in this position.
"My feeling is, because I work closely with him, is that if he would be fit and playing regularly he would be making a great case. It's step by step for us at the moment. Dominic is an England player. Can we get him fit and get him on the pitch for us first? Great. Hopefully see what he can deliver for us and then of course he gets himself into that question."
When pushed further on whether there was still time for Calvert-Lewin to make it onto the plane to Qatar, he added: "I don't know. It's not my decision. My focus is on getting Dominic in the best condition and playing well for us."
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