Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Orel Mangala injury latest as Everton timeframe confirmed
Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be seen by a specialist for an assessment of his hamstring injury, while Orel Mangala has played his last game for Everton. The updates were released by the club on Thursday night after days of work to understand the severity of the injuries, both of which were suffered in the win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.
The club is to seek further advice on the extent of Calvert-Lewin's hamstring problem but said officials currently expect him to be out for "a number of weeks".
Mangala's condition is far worse, the Belgian international having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that will render him unavailable for the rest of the season. The midfielder is with Everton on a loan deal from Lyon that will expire before he is fit to play again.
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There was immediate concern over both players after they were withdrawn during the match at The Amex. Calvert-Lewin pulled up inside the opening 15 minutes and looked crestfallen as he limped down the tunnel.
Mangala suffered his knee injury in the second half in a collision with Joel Veltman. After receiving treatment on the pitch, he tried to return to the action, only to collapse moments later.
Blues boss David Moyes said after the game the initial fears were that the injury was serious, adding: "We've had a difficult day and if we had actually come away and not got a result today, it would have felt much sorer because of the couple of injuries we've picked up. So, that was great credit to the players, their effort and commitment to get a result under the circumstances.”
Both setbacks mean Everton chiefs are under pressure to strengthen Moyes’ squad in the final days of the January transfer window. Everton are one of the lowest scorers in the Premier League but there had been hope Calvert-Lewin, who ended a months-long goal drought against Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month, was about to hit form.
That opportunity has now been taken from him and left Everton with just one fit senior forward heading into the final days of the January transfer window, with Youssef Chermiti and Armando Broja also facing extended periods out of action. Everton were already in the market for a central midfielder even before Mangala's injury and with James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam returning to first team action.