Injury and availability claims on Dominic Calvert-Lewin – Fact checked | OneFootball

It looks very likely that Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be leaving Goodison Park.

Whilst if the widespread reporting is proved correct, the club he looks set to join is, Newcastle United.

The 27 year old has refused to sign a new contract and with only 12 months left on his current deal, Everton will surely be forced to sell their striker.

Eddie Howe has been said for some time to have an interest in signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, so if/when he signs, what can we expect?

I have seen a lot of Newcastle United fans commenting on the seemingly imminent move, as well as Everton fans having their say of course!

However, I wanted to focus on what NUFC supporters are saying, especially when it comes to one aspect.

That is, what is the truth of it when Newcastle fans talk of serious injury and availability worries on Dominic Calvert-Lewin?

Time for a fact check I think…

Dominic Calvert-Lewin joined Everton from Sheffield United on 30 August 2016 as a 19 year old, with three games of that season having gone by already, this is his entire record at Everton for the seven full seasons he has been there.

2017/18 Played in 32 PL games and named in 33 PL matchday squads (Incl cup matches, played in 35 games and named in 36 matchday squads)

2018/19 Played in 35 PL games and named in 37 PL matchday squads (Incl cup matches, played in 38 games and named in 40 matchday squads)

2019/20 Played in 36 PL games and named in 38 PL matchday squads (Incl cup matches, played in 41 games and named in 43 matchday squads)

2020/21 Played in 33 PL games and named in 33 PL matchday squads (Incl cup matches, played in 39 games and named in 40 matchday squads)

2021/22 Played in 17 PL games and named in 20 PL matchday squads (Incl cup matches, played in 18 games and named in 21 matchday squads)

2022/23 Played in 17 PL games and named in 17 PL matchday squads (Incl cup matches, played in 18 games and named in 18 matchday squads)

2023/24 Played in 32 PL games and named in 32 PL matchday squads (Incl cup matches, played in 38 games and named in 38 matchday squads)

So these last seven seasons…

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has played in 192 of a possible 266 Premier League matches.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin named in 210 of a possible 266 Premier League matchday squads.

Whilst when you also include cup matches…

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, these last seven seasons, has made 217 Everton appearances, averaging 31 per season.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin these last seven seasons, was named in 236 matchday squads, averaging 34 per season when it comes to availability.

Conclusions

Those who want to see Dominic Calvert-Lewin as some kind of serious risk in terms of injury and availability, will no doubt point to the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons. Though even over the course of those two seasons he was available for just over half the Premier League matches, named in 39 of 76 PL matchday squads.

Plus, reality is that last season Dominic Calvert-Lewin made 38 appearances (all competitions) for Everton, including playing in 32 of their 38 PL games.

So when talking about his injury and availability record, he bounced back last season and was fit and available almost the entire season.

I’m not saying that Newcastle United should or shouldn’t be signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, I’m happy to leave that up to Eddie Howe.

However, I think it is very misleading to claim that this is a player where his injury / fitness record make him a striker Newcastle United shouldn’t consider signing.

As for his goal record, again I’m open minded and happy to leave to Eddie Howe.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored 29 Premier League goals from 62 PL starts (plus seven sub appearances), across the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. So he has shown very good previous goalscoring form.

Very difficult to judge him playing for Everton last season, they were the most boring negative team in the top tier under Sean Dyche and only Sheffield United scored less than Everton’s 40 goals.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin started 26 PL games and came off the bench in another six, he scored seven goals in those PL matches and was top scorer with eight in all competitions. A fair assumption that playing for Newcastle United he would get a lot more chances and score a lot more goals, in the progressive Eddie Howe way of doing things, United scoring 85 PL goals last season (only the top three scored more), more than double Everton’s total!