Dominic Calvert-Lewin has suffered a significant setback in his bid to regain fitness, exacerbating the injury crisis facing Everton boss Rafa Benitez.
Calvert-Lewin — Everton’s leading scorer last season and someone in whom Benitez was investing so much hope — has not played since scoring in a 2-0 win at Brighton on August 28 due to a quadriceps problem.
The England striker had hoped to be back soon but he had a relapse at the club’s Finch Farm training base and is out for an unspecified time.
Everton will not say when they hope he can return but it is understood that he will not be involved in England’s last two World Cup qualifiers against Albania and San Marino next month.