Everton handed late injury blow before Saints clash as Boyland shares news on 'electric' player

Everton winger Demarai Gray won’t return against Southampton this afternoon, according to Patrick Boyland.

Described as ‘electric’ by Garth Crooks earlier in the season, Gray suffered a hip problem against Newcastle in Frank Lampard’s first game in charge of the Toffees.

The 25-year-old lasted just 25 minutes in the defeat at St James’ Park and sat out the win over Leeds a few days later.

Lampard was hopeful before the win over Marcelo Bielsa’s men last time out that Gray would be back within a week, but that won’t be the case.

Everton correspondent Boyland shared an update regarding Gray via Twitter on Thursday.

Lampard revealed that the winger won’t be available against Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side this afternoon but is hopeful that the 25-year-old can return against Manchester City next weekend.

Although it is a blow not to have Gray back following Lampard’s initial hopes prior to the Leeds game, it appears to be the correct call. The last thing that anyone would want would be to rush the winger back against the Saints, only for him to then make his injury worse.

Both Anthony Gordon and Alex Iwobi starred last time out, so you’d expect that they could keep their places, with Lampard also having multiple wide options from the bench in Anwar El Ghazi and Andros Townsend.

In other news: BBC Radio 5 Live pundit claims Everton are now in ‘pole position’ to sign ‘perfect’ player who Lampard loves

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