"Big surprise" - Journalist stunned by Frank Lampard decision in Everton defeat to NUFC

Journalist Pete O’Rourke was surprised to see Frank Lampard leave Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the bench in Everton‘s 3-1 defeat against Newcastle United last night.

The 24-year-old has only just returned from injury after missing the Toffees’ recent FA Cup victory versus Brentford, but O’Rourke was still puzzled not to see him even come on as a substitute.

While Calvert-Lewin was in fantastic form last season, scoring 21 goals in all competitions, he has not been able to make much of an impact this term due to injury.

The £40.5m-rated centre-forward made just five appearances under Rafael Benitez before the Spaniard’s dismissal, scoring three goals in the process.

As already mentioned, he missed Lampard’s first game in charge, the 4-1 win against Brentford at Goodison Park, but was fit enough to make the bench for the loss to Newcastle.

However, Calvert-Lewin was an unused sub that night, with his manager’s last change being new signing Donny van de Beek for Andre Gomes despite Everton needing a goal at the time after Ryan Fraser had put Eddie Howe’s side 2-1 up.

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O’Rourke has told GIVEMESPORT that Lampard’s decision not to use Calvert-Lewin was a “big surprise”.

Speaking to GMS, the transfer insider said: “Big surprise for me probably in that Newcastle game was Calvert-Lewin was on the bench – didn’t come off the bench either.”

Without a shadow of a doubt. In Lampard’s defence, his hands were a bit tied after being forced to make two first-half substitutions because of injury.

He had one sub left by the time the second 45 minutes had arrived and clearly felt a change had to be made in midfield. Still, with Everton needing a