Struggling Everton boosted by return of Calvert-Lewin

Calvert-Lewin had not played since the beginning of February because of a thigh injury and with Everton hovering just above the relegation zone, his return cannot come soon enough.

FILE PHOTO: Calvert-Lewin took part in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Everton’s Finch Farm training ground this week, playing 70 minutes. | Photo Credit: REUTERS/DAVID KLEIN

Everton has been handed a boost in its battle for Premier League survival with injury-plagued striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin ready to return to the squad for Saturday’s crucial away trip to Crystal Palace.

Calvert-Lewin had not played since the beginning of February because of a thigh injury and with Everton hovering just above the relegation zone, his return cannot come soon enough.

“He’ll certainly be in the squad. He’s coming to the end of his rehab period, which is brilliant,” Dyche told reporters on Thursday. “My main concern has just been safeguarding his return, his proper return when he is 100% fit.”

Calvert-Lewin took part in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Everton’s Finch Farm training ground this week, playing 70 minutes.

But Dyche said he was yet to decide whether he would start the game at Selhurst Park.

“He will certainly be in my thinking, without a doubt.”

Everton has 27 points from 31 games, the same as third-from-bottom Nottingham Forest, and faces a Palace side which has surged away from danger on the back of three successive wins since the return of 75-year-old Roy Hodgson as interim manager following the departure of Patrick Vieira.

Dyche said he is full of admiration for Hodgson, who he described as a ‘top fella’ but said any niceties would be put to one side once the whistle goes on Saturday.

“I have a lot of respect for him. But that goes out of the window when the whistle goes,” Dyche, who replaced the sacked Frank Lampard at the end of January, said.

“We’ve got to be aware of how they’ve changed.”

Everton suffered a second successive league defeat last weekend at home to Fulham -- a performance that did little to suggest they can distance themselves from the bottom three.

“The players aren’t stupid, they know when they’ve stepped off. They were as disappointed as I was last week,” Dyche said.

“Things go against you, it’s how quickly you can react.”

Dyche said experienced defender Seamus Coleman will be unavailable because of a thigh injury, but Amadou Onana has returned to training following a groin injury.