Everton striker to miss Premier League opener against Chelsea

• Chelsea will open the new Premier League season with a trip to Everton on Saturday, August 6 2022
• Everton have been handed a blow prior to the clash after their star-forward picked a knock during training
• Everton manager Frank Lampard has confirmed Calvert-Lewin will be absent on Saturday

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be absent from his side’s Premier League opener against Chelsea after suffering a knee injury in training.

The England international spent much of last season on the sidelines but returned to the squad for the final four league games, in which he scored two goals to help keep Everton in the top flight.

But the 25-year-old will now be back in the treatment room at Finch Farm after sustaining an injury to his knee on Tuesday.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin in a past Premier League match for Everton. | PHOTO: Getty Images |

Everton will be keen for Calvert-Lewin to return as soon as possible, in the hope he can return to the form that saw him score 16 goals in 33 league appearances in the 2020-21 campaign.

Toffees boss Frank Lampard told reporters: “We are assessing Dom’s injury. No timeframe has been confirmed and we are pretty sure what level it is, so we are hopeful it is not long-term.

“We’ll miss him for Chelsea. He was looking in great physical condition and was training really well. It was a freak injury in training, which does happen.

“It’s a shame but we have to find the solutions to keep ourselves strong without Dominic before he returns.”

Everton manager Frank Lampard confirmed to the press that his side will be without Dominic Calvert-Lewin on Saturday during his side’s Premier League opener against Chelsea. | PHOTO: Getty Images |

In other news still touching on Chelsea, Brighton and Hove Albion have issued a statement denying they have reached an agreement for the sale of defender Marc Cucurella, following various reports of a deal with Chelsea.

The Blues are pushing to sign the Spain international in a deal reportedly worth in excess of £50million, having leapt ahead of Premier League champions Manchester City in the hunt for his services.

Progress was seemingly made on Wednesday when a number of media outlets reported Brighton had agreed to the sale of Cucurella to Chelsea, which would have seen the Blues’ spending in the window extend following the captures of Kalidou Koulibaly, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Slonina – the latter remaining with Chicago Fire on loan.

Brighton moved swiftly to make it clear that was not the case, however, taking to social media to issue a firm correction on the proceedings.

“Contrary to inaccurate reports from numerous media outlets this evening, no agreement has been reached with any club to sell Marc Cucurella,” the statement seen by SportsLeo read.