Everton dealt big blow before Brentford with six players now out alongside Calvert-Lewin

Everton have been dealt a big blow before their game at home to Brentford in the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon as seven players will now miss out.

The match against the Bees will be Frank Lampard’s first in charge at Goodison Park, and it will no doubt be intriguing who he picks and what kind of system he will want to play.

It is the perfect chance to get off to a good start in front of the fans, in a competition that they have not won since 1995, and not been in the final since 2009 (Transfermarkt).

As per the official website of the Merseyside club, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Fabian Delph and Tom Davies are all missing through injury, while new signings Dele Alli, Donny van de Beek and Anwar El Ghazi are all cup-tied, making it seven players missing for the home side in total.

Of course, having so many out is not ideal for Lampard, but at least it will give him an opportunity to look more closely at some of his fringe players and youngsters in his squad.

While this gives a chance for other players to impress, it will be a blow for Lampard that he is missing some of his best players.

Following the departure of Rafa Benitez midway through the season, after a poor run of results that has left them lurking just outside of the relegation zone, it is imperative that the former Derby County and Chelsea manager starts fast, and what better way to do that then to get them through to the next round of the FA Cup.

Nonetheless, he will no doubt now be relying on some fringe players and youngsters to step up, and perhaps it will be a blessing in disguise if he unleashes an exciting young talent like Nathan Patterson, for example.

In other news, find out what exciting Toffees claim this transfer insider has dropped