Frank Lampard issues Everton injury update, selection hint for Wolves and Dele Alli latest

Frank Lampard has been speaking to the media ahead of Everton’s clash with Wolves at Goodison Park on Sunday (14.00).

Here are the key talking points from the Toffees boss’ pre-match press conference.

Injury update

After Monday’s embarrassing 5-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, Lampard revealed he hoped that Ben Godfrey (hamstring) and Demarai Gray (illness) would be in training this week.

That is the case heading into the Wolves clash - and hinted both may start.

Lampard said: “Ben Godfrey is a big player, Demarai Gray is a big player.

“I haven’t really been able to call on them but now I can. We need our big players.”

Michael Keane was withdrawn at half-time at Spurs due to illness.

Lampard revealed the centre-back is starting to feel better and saluted him for playing with Godfrey and Yerry Mina (quad) absent.

“Michael Keane was suffering a bit with a fever going into the game. While he’s below par, we needed him and played.

“I remember doing that as a player and you don’t always get plaudits. After it, sometimes you wish you hadn’t.

“The beauty of it is he’s professional and wanted to put himself out there. Suffered in the game, came off because he was suffering, been suffering for a couple of days afterwards but now is feeling better.”

Alli latest

Dele Alli is still to make a start for Everton arriving from Tottenham in the January transfer window.

He’s made five appearances - but all have arrived from the bench.

Lampard revealed that Alli is in his selection thoughts to feature from the outset against Wolves.

He said: “He is fit and ready to start. Am I considering it? Yes.

“When you come in fresh, you have to consider everybody. Everyone has to train to be able to play.

“It’s an area of the pitch where we have good competition, in attacking midfield and the wide areas. The players have to show they deserve to start.

“Dele came here having not played regular first-team football for a long time. That has to be taken to account but he’s fit and ready.”

Approach for Wolves

Wolves have conceded the fourth fewest goals in the Premier League this season.

In contrast, Everton have scored just 28 goals in the top flight.

Lampard confessed that there might be a ‘change’ from the Spurs loss to break down Bruno Lage’s stubborn side.

He said: “I’ve changed the approach a few times since I’ve been here and that’s generally been because of personnel and injuries.

“We’ve seen it in Premier League history - any team that loses front-line centre-back, two at the same time, it becomes really difficult.

“It won’t be a dramatic change of approach for Wolves.

“It’ll be an approach that we see relevant for the opposition in Wolves and maybe a change because we have players available that haven’t been.”

Points target

Everton are 17th and just one place and one point above the relegation zone.

But they have three games in hand on 16th-placed Leeds United after their 3-0 loss to Aston Villa last night.

Still, Lampard is only focused on the next game against Wolves and has not set a specific points target for survival.

“I don’t think you can because it will be relevant to what everyone else does,” said Lampard.

“We have to be in a position where the next game is the most important.

“There are a lot of points to play for. with 13 league games. We should look at what’s right in front of us.

“The table can change very quickly with a couple of wins or defeats. It can change the face of it so our focus can only be on the next game.”