‘Really good’: Frank Lampard says 19-year-old Everton youngster is really pushing for a first-team place now

By Ben Evans

Everton manager Frank Lampard has a number of key decisions to make going into their Boxing Day fixture against Wolves.

A number of his first-team squad are facing fitness tests despite the mid-season break.

Lampard addressed this on Everton’s official YouTube channel, as well as a number of other topics.

He explained that midfielder James Garner is still likely to be out until at least February.

It’s a real blow for a player who Lampard rates incredibly highly.

There’s also question marks over whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be fit.

His injury record over the last 18 months has been very poor, and he’s never been at his best under Lampard.

Calvert-Lewin posted a picture of him working in the gym last week, but it’s unknown whether he’ll be able to start against Wolves.

It means Neal Maupay is the only senior centre-forward guaranteed to be available after Salomon Rondon was released.

However, Lampard has said that academy striker Thomas Cannon is pushing to play for the first-team right now.

He’s already made his senior debut this season, and netted for the Toffees in Australia.

Calvert-Lewin’s absence could be the break Cannon needs to become part of Lampard’s plans.

Cannon pushing to play first-team football

Speaking about the club’s young players, Lampard said: “The onus is on them. They know that I’m very happy to put in young players but they also have to be at the level to help the team.

“Of course, in those forwards areas the squad is not so heavy, especially with Dom [Calvert-Lewin] being out for a while, so Tommy [Cannon] comes in and showed great quality and attitude to be fair.

“He’s doing very well at the minute to throw himself into the picture.

“The way he’s training with us, and playing and scoring goals when he’s playing for the under-21s.

“So, it’s really good to see the development of him. To step into the first-team and make an impact is another level, but at the minute he’s showing everything he can.”

Cannon isn’t the only young player who impressed in Australia pushing to play more senior minutes.

Isaac Price was brilliant in midfield while Everton were Down Under, and caught the eye of some of the first-team.

It’s a much tougher position to break into Everton’s team right now, with Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye Lampard’s favoured midfielders.

He may have to watch from the side lines as Cannon kicks on with the first-team.