Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Dominic Calvert-Lewin will return to action in Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday.
England striker Calvert-Lewin, who has missed Everton’s last three games due to a hamstring injury, is likely to start in the fourth-round clash.
Everton will have had a 12-day break by the time they take on Wednesday at Goodison Park, but half a dozen players remain sidelined.
🤕 | Carlo confirms Calvert-Lewin is back – but adds Gbamin, Allan, Delph, Digne, Iwobi and Nkounkou are unavailable for Sunday's #EmiratesFACup tie against @swfc.— Everton (@Everton) January 22, 2021
“We have Calvert-Lewin back for the game, unfortunately we have some players out, like (Jean-Philippe) Gbamin, Allan, (Fabian) Delph, (Lucas) Digne, (Alex) Iwobi and (Niels) Nkounkou,” Ancelotti said.
“But the others are in good condition, ready to play this game and ready to compete in this competition because it is important. The FA Cup for us is very important.”
Everton face a busy schedule with two home Premier League games in four days next week, against Leicester on Wednesday and Newcastle on Saturday.
“I want to put out the best line-up as possible against Sheffield (Wednesday) because we want to move on in this competition and I think Dominic can start because he trained well,” Ancelotti said.
🔜| Allan update: due back in training in 7-10 days. Expected to be available for our game against Manchester United on 8 February. @Everton_PT 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/6YKHwwb1d5— Everton (@Everton) January 22, 2021
The Everton boss said that Iwobi and Digne were both hoping to return to contention for the visit of Leicester.
Despite an injury list which includes three midfielders, Ancelotti is not expecting to strengthen his squad during the current transfer window.
“Tom Davies, the game he played he did really well,.(Abdoulaye) Doucoure is always there, although he is suspended against Leicester, and Andre Gomes didn’t play a lot but he’s back because his condition is really good,” the Italian said.
“We are not short because unfortunately we are not going to play in Europe (this season), so I think that we can manage well all the season with this squad, knowing that Delph and Allan will be back soon.”
Ivory Coast midfielder Gbamin has made just two appearances for Everton since joining from Mainz for £25million in August 2019.
The 25-year-old has twice had surgery to resolve a thigh problem and sustained an Achilles injury in May.
“We have to look at him day by day,” Ancelotti said. “He’s following his individual problem like Allan and Delph and I think slowly he can be able to train with us.
“But we don’t want to put pressure on him because he was out for a long time and when he comes back he has to be ready. For sure he will come back.”
