Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin plays 65 minutes in a friendly against Chester

 Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin appears to be returning to full fitness after playing in a friendly game for the club against non-league Chester.

The striker has not appeared for the first team since picking up a hamstring injury in the Toffees’ 1-0 win over Arsenal at the start of February, Sean Dyche’s first game in charge of the club.

He has now played 65 minutes in a game that was played surrounded by green sheets at Finch Farm to ensure it was behind closed doors.

Despite the Everton team also featuring the likes of Conor Coady, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Yerry Mina, they were beaten 1-0 by sixth-tier Chester.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has played 65 minutes in a friendly against non-league Chester

The Everton striker has not featured for the first team since picking up a hamstring injury at the start of February

If Calvert-Lewin is fit to return to the first team, it will offer a huge boost to Sean Dyche’s side.

After bagging 21 goals in the 2020-21 season, he has struggled with fitness and made just 12 appearances this term. 

Only Nottingham Forest and Southampton have scored less goals than Everton this season, and they now find themselves outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone. 

Having a regular scorer back in the team could be vital, and the manager seemed cautiously optimistic about Calvert-Lewin’s return after their 3-1 loss to Fulham at the weekend.

 ‘Dom’s going well which is a positive,’ Dyche said. ‘He’ll be back hopefully in the thinking this week as long as the week goes well.

‘He’s had a very good week this week and we want him to have another very good week next week and then we’ll see how he’s feeling.’ 

The Toffees currently sit above the relegation zone on goal difference after losing 3-1 to Fulham

Sean Dyche said his side’s next match against Crystal Palace will be a ‘big game’

On the disappointing result for his side, the manager added: ‘When you’re playing Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham, the fans go with you a little bit easier because they’re tough (matches),’ Dyche added.

‘But there was an expectation here and we’ve got to deal with that expectation because there will be more expectation coming. You’ve got to find the consistency and too many went under too quick here.

‘The next one’s a big one, but they’re all big ones. When I got here I said every game is a big game and we all know that.’

The Toffees are next in action against Crystal Palace on Saturday, and face a tough run-in that sees them face Newcastle, Brighton and Manchester City as well as relegation rivals Bournemouth in their final seven games.