Sky Sports claim Calvert-Lewin is absent from Everton training

Sky Sports’ Vinny O’Connor has spotted that Dominic Calvert-Lewin has missed yet another Everton training session.

The Lowdown: Injury woes continue to hamper Everton

Ever since the beginning of last season, Calvert-Lewin has not been able to stay fit or put a run of consistent starts together for the Toffees, with the England international only starting 24 league games over the last two campaigns.

When Sean Dyche was appointed at Everton, he vowed to get to the bottom of Calvert-Lewin’s injury woes, with the club looking into his mattress and the car he drives. However, he is yet to return to the pitch.

Just last week, the striker was finally back doing training sessions with his Everton teammates, but with their next game on Saturday afternoon swiftly approaching, it looks as though Calvert-Lewin may well have suffered a setback.

The Latest: Calvert-Lewin struggling to get fit

Reporter O’Connor had been at Finch Farm to take in Everton’s latest training session prior to this weekend’s clash against Chelsea, and dropped the worrying news that Calvert-Lewin wasn’t out on the grass.

He said: “Someone like Dominic Calvert-Lewin in a relegation battle, if he can find his top form and get the trust of his manager in terms of form and the ability to play game after game after game, he’s a much-needed weapon as Everton look to pull away from that drop-zone.

“But at the moment, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is not out there training with his Everton teammates.”

The Verdict: Everton may rue Calvert-Lewin’s injury problems

Despite the positive news of Calvert-Lewin returning to first-team training, the fact he was not seen with his teammates just days before a tough game away to Chelsea will be devastating for Evertonians and Dyche.

If Everton can somehow manage to get Calvert-Lewin fit for at least five games before the end of the season, he could prove to be the difference between staying up and experiencing their first-ever relegation from the Premier League.

He’s an experienced and established striker in the top flight and certainly has the mentality needed to lead the line for Everton as he did so whenever fit last season, and popped up when it mattered against Crystal Palace last year, although they’ll likely have to wait a while longer with Dyche since admitting they’re still ‘monitoring‘ the striker and being very careful with his situation.