The Everton manager spoke to the media about the striker’s fitness ahead of the clash with Aston Villa on Sunday

Sean Dyche has revealed that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is back in contention for Everton’s trip to Aston Villa on Sunday.

Calvert-Lewin has endured a torrid couple of years, with injuries preventing him from playing for his side. The England international has featured on just 36 occasions in all competitions over the duration of the last two seasons.

The forward’s lack of availability over the past two seasons prompted Dyche and the club’s training staff to manage the England international carefully during pre-season. Calvert-Lewin was then omitted from his side’s matchday squad for the defeat to Fulham last weekend.

However, after playing a full 90 minutes in a practice match against Manchester United at Carrington on Tuesday, Dyche revealed on Friday afternoon that the forward is back in his thinking for Sunday’s game at Villa Park.

Dyche also provided updates on Vitalii Mykolenko, Arnaut Danjuma and Andre Gomes. All three players started the 1-0 defeat to Marco Silva’s side on the bench, with only Danjuma

“Myko still has a bit to do, and Arnie still has a bit to do with just that real fitness, but a lot of them got 90 minutes in the week, which was pleasing,” the Everton boss revealed.

“The only one, I think, Andre has got tightness in his calf, so we have just got to be careful with that, so just trying to get the base fitness right really for a few of them but they are getting closer to what you would call true fitness.”

The Everton boss also revealed that Dwight McNeil, who has been sidelined since picking up an ankle injury against Stoke City last month, has stepped up his recovery.

“He’s going alright, I spokhttps://sportmassagee.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Everton_FC_logo.svg_.pnge to him today” Dyche said when asked for an update on the winger.

“He’s just on the light stuff now, not quite on the grass, but getting back in the running and really building a true strength to his ankle.”

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New signing Youssef Chermiti watched on from the stands last weekend, and although the forward featured in the practice match against United, Dyche suggested the former Sport CP man is not someone who is in his immediate thinking.

He said: “He has come in a bit delayed from his games programme; he got 45 minutes in the week, so he is still adjusting and adapting.

“He is very young, but he is adapting to the training and playing, so he will be a slow burner, I think. He is going along nicely at the minute just settling in.”