Lampard dealt blow as star reveals worrying timescale for Everton return

Everton have been hit with the news that midfielder Tom Davies will not play again this season as he recovers from surgery.

The 23-year-old has been out of action since early November. He suffered a knee injury and then a hamstring issue forced him to go under the surgeon’s knife in January. The problem was described as a “high-grade tendon injury that required surgical intervention”.

The Liverpool-born ace had made just one start among five Premier League outings before being struck down. He also missed three weeks of action after suffering a knock in August.

There was no timescale put on his recovery. Manager Frank Lampard would have hoped to have the former England Under-21 star back before the end of the campaign.

But that will not be the case as Davies revealed his fate on Instagram.

A fan asked him: “When could you be back on the pitch. Missing you so much Tommy.”

And Davies replied, via The Mail: “Next season.”

He last played while Rafa Benitez was in the Goodison Park dugout. His last outing – a goalless draw with Spurs – stopped the rot after three straight top-flight defeats.

However, the Merseysiders won just one further match before Saturday’s 3-0 triumph over Leeds United. That run of results saw the Spaniard jettisoned, with Lampard brought in on January 31.

The former England midfielder has won two of his three games in charge and been praised for his influence in such a short space of time.

Davies will be unable to force his way back into the side this term and faces that battle in August.

Everton added to the ranks in the January transfer window with the acquisition of Dele Alli from Tottenham. The 25-year-old had gone stale at Spurs and fallen down the pecking order.

Lampard will hope to get the best