Frank Lampard will miss Andros Townsend as Everton truth emerges

He’s not been a regular in recent weeks – perhaps that’s been part of Everton’s scoring problem – but Frank Lampard will miss Andros Townsend’s goal contributions during the run-in of the Premier League season.

Townsend suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on Sunday when returning to face former club Crystal Palace in the FA Cup quarter-finals at Selhurst Park after turning his ankle following a challenge from Tyrick Mitchell and could now face several months out on the sidelines. A free transfer signing following his release from the Eagles last summer, the 30-year-old produced some impressive personal numbers during his debut campaign on Merseyside despite the Blues’ struggles in general.

Across all competitions this term, Townsend is the only Everton player to date to have recorded double figures (11) in terms of goal involvements, his total number scored plus assists, having netted seven times – making him leading scorer – and laid on four more for his team-mates. Next up is his fellow new boy Demarai Gray on nine (six goals and three assists), followed by Richarlison, eight (five goals, three assists) while Anthony Gordon (three goals, three assists) and Abdoulaye Doucoure (two goals, four assists) are tied on six apiece.

Such returns are relatively paltry and a damning indicator of the Blues’ lack of firepower in what has been a season of great strife. Alex Iwobi’s late match-winner against Newcastle United moves him up to five with three goals and two assists but the lack of impact from last year’s top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin shows through his overall tally of just four from three goals and one assist, which puts him level with centre-back Michael Keane who has two goals and two assists.

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