Dominic Calvert-Lewin injury: Everton striker to see specialist on hamstring injury with Orel Mangala out for season

Everton have been handed a double injury blow with Dominic Calvert-Lewin set to be sidelined for a number of weeks and midfielder Orel Mangala ruled out for the rest of the season.

Calvert-Lewin sustained a hamstring injury in Saturday's win over Brighton, while Mangala injured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the same fixture.

Calvert-Lewin's setback comes at a tough time as Everton also have fellow forwards Youssef Chermiti and Armando Broja out injured.

 Calvert-Lewin receives treatment before being taken off at the Amex

On-loan Chelsea forward Broja will be out for a few months but will stay at the Toffees and not return to his parent club. Chermiti is a long-term absentee with a thigh issue.

It leaves just Beto as their only recognised centre-forward. Everton also have key creative player Dwight McNeil recovering from a knee injury, while Tim Iroegbunam is on the way back from a foot problem.

Calvert-Lewin facing sad if predictable end to Everton career

Calvert-Lewin was injured during the win at Brighton

"The focus will inevitably be on the urgency for Everton to sign a striker in the final few days of the transfer window. In last Saturday's 1-0 victory over Brighton, the Toffees amassed an expected goals total of just 0.85, with 0.78 of that coming courtesy of Iliman Ndiaye's penalty.

"Dominic Calvert-Lewin's career at Goodison Park could well be over as a result of his latest injury setback.

"The striker's contract is up at the end of the season and his record in the treatment room, coupled with his modest goals return, places all parties in a tough position to find a resolution that sees the 27-year-old extending his association at Bramley-Moore Dock.

"The reality is that Orel Mangala's absence over the coming months will be felt every bit as much. The Belgium international had to be patient in becoming a regular starter under Sean Dyche but the blossoming relationship being formed alongside Idrissa Gueye certainly has not gone unnoticed by supporters.

"Key to the back-to-back victories to ignite David Moyes' second spell in charge has been the pair's understanding in the middle third and the loss of Mangala means the return of an earlier problem in the campaign where Gueye might find himself exposed.

"James Garner must now hit the ground running after his own spell on the sidelines, while Tim Iroegbunam - who showed plenty of promise but also understandable inexperience when entrusted in the position - must demonstrate he has grown in stature from watching Mangala's composed displays.

"Given his importance, it would be surprising if Everton did not look to turn that loan deal into a permanent signing from Lyon in the summer but for now he holds a vital loan space that could provide the key to any late dealings in this window.

"With Broja seemingly staying at the club, it would even appear the most likely route Everton have to attack the market without committing to a player in the long term.

"For Calvert-Lewin, the news comes as a huge blow. It was a summer's day in August 2021 when he strode forward and dispatched the penalty which secured Everton's first win at the Amex Stadium.

"In doing so, however, little did he know then that he would sustain an injury which would impact his goal-scoring output for the next three years of his career.

"The striker had scored in all three of his games that season but the quad injury picked up during the second half meant he only scored another two goals in an injury-interrupted campaign which very nearly ended in relegation.

"Calvert-Lewin scored 29 goals under Carlo Ancelotti but has been unable to replicate the same prowess under three managers since.

"He brilliantly got off the mark last weekend against Tottenham under Moyes and appeared to be responding positively to his new manager's bullish instruction to take responsibility.

"It ended a run of 16 Premier League games without a goal while he also had six shots against Spurs, as many as he had in his previous six league appearances combined.

"But having returned to the place where some Evertonians recall the day his struggles of the past three-and-a-half years started, it was a sad if predictable sight in front of this reporter that in trying to build on his comeback, an innocuous aerial challenge would possibly lead to his final act in an Everton shirt."