Boost for Frank: Everton star now 'available' vs Wolves in twist from reported April return date

Everton manager Frank Lampard will be able to call upon Ben Godfrey against Wolves on Sunday after he returned from injury.

Godfrey hasn’t played since Lampard’s first match in charge – a 4-1 victory over Brentford in the FA Cup.

He was forced off in that game with a hamstring injury and has missed the last six.

It’s a particularly timely boost for the manager given the importance of the fixture – Everton’s 5-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur deepened their relegation worries, but their record of three wins from four at Goodison Park under Lampard offers encouragement that home form could keep them up.

They’ve been without two centre-backs in Godfrey and Yerry Mina, who has a quad injury.

The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland relayed an update from Lampard’s press conference on Friday.

The 43-year-old confirmed that Godfrey is ‘fit and available’ for the game, in addition to winger Demarai Gray.

It seems Everton’s medical staff have given the £77,000-per-week Godfrey the green light to return before the international window, which is a positive twist after injury expert Ben Dinnery suggested last month that he may not get the all-clear until after the break (which doesn’t end until April).

But this gives Lampard another option not only against Wolves, but also against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup quarterfinal next weekend.

He could perhaps slot straight back into the side after Everton faced stinging criticism for their defensive display against Spurs, led by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, who called their rear-guard ‘Championship’ standard.

In other news, Everton are interested in this Championship star.

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