Everton trio send Frank Lampard message as Ellis Simms addresses Hearts future

Your Everton evening headlines for Saturday, March 26.

Frank Lampard will probably be fairly satisfied with the lack of Everton players called up for international duty over the current break. Of course, some of that will point to the poor form of his squad - which is obviously less than ideal - but it means he can keep the majority under his watchful eye this week.

There's no escaping the palpable feeling that this could be a crucial period of the run-in. Other sides across the Premier League are gearing up for the fight ahead - some with either much more experience of being in these positions in the past, or with a fair amount of confidence thanks to their recent results.

While Lampard will have much of his squad to mould in his image over the course of the international break, there have been a few players who have flew the nest for a brief amount of time.

All of them find themselves in hugely different positions in the squad - but could be returning to Finch Farm at the end of next week with important messages for the manager to take note of.

Everton forward Ellis Simms has revealed he is open to the possibility of a return to Heart of Midlothian once his loan ends at the end of the season.

Simms joined the Jambos during the January transfer window, completing a deal until the end of the season. He has so far scored four goals in 11 games for Robbie Neilson's side.

The forward had found himself around the Blues first-team on multiple occasions this season after impressing on loan at Blackpool last season. Simms spent the second half of the 2020/21 campaign on loan with the Seasiders, where he scored 10 goals in 24 appearances to help Neil Critchley's side to promotion to the Championship from League One.

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