Everton manager Frank Lampard is happy to ignore the external noise around striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin to ensure he manages him back to full fitness.
Calvert-Lewin made his first appearance this season in the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United at Goodison Park.
The England man suffered a “freak” knee injury in training before Everton’s opener against Chelsea in August.
Initial hopes that Calvert-Lewin would only miss the first month of the season proved to be optimistic.
“We need to be a bit careful with him,” said Lampard, who limited the 25-year-old to a 14-minute cameo on Sunday. “We have to look long-term.
“We got him on the pitch today. It is important we do that in the right manner and get him match fit. In the Premier League, you have to be match-fit. He has to get to the level where he can really affect games the way we want him to.”
It has been a tough 15 months for Calvert-Lewin since he was part of Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad.
At the start of last season, he had four months out with a fractured toe. That, and his latest problem, are a major reason why he has only scored two goals in almost 14 months.
Given his contribution prior to that, it was little wonder the Everton fans gave him a standing ovation when he came on against United.
However, Lampard will block out the clamour for greater involvement and make sure he makes the rig
ht decisions to ensure Calvert-Lewin is available on a consistent basis. “The noise isn’t a problem,” he said. “We have to deal with that in a professional manner.
“Hopefully with another week it will be longer and then he becomes our player and someone we can rely on.”
