Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has dropped a major hint that he could finally be ready to return from injury to spearhead their battle to beat the drop.
Calvert-Lewin has not played for the relegation-threatened Blues since February when the talisman picked up a hamstring injury in new manager Sean Dyche's first game in charge. His season has been blighted by setbacks and Everton have only had their No.9 fit and available for 11 matches in the Premier League.
But could the England international be pencilled in for a first-team return on Saturday afternoon? Sitting one position above the bottom three, on goal difference, the Blues are ready to continue their campaign against in-form Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park (3pm).
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Victory in that match - which would be their first in five games - could move Everton up to 16th as the season reaches its business end. With seven matches to go, Dyche and his squad are looking over their shoulder with Nottingham Forest, Leicester City and rock-bottom Southampton within four points of them in the table.
Calvert-Lewin started the first Premier League game after Dyche was appointed. However, that eye-catching win over Arsenal was marred by another injury to the frontman, who stepped up his comeback with a friendly appearance against Chester FC at Finch Farm on Tuesday afternoon.
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Everton were beaten in that game, but the primary objective appears to have been passed as Calvert-Lewin moves quickly to address his proposed comeback. Uploading a training picture on to Twitter, the player gave the update that everyone in blue had been waiting for.
In a short message to his 153,400 followers, he said: "Bring on Saturday! #UTFT."
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