Frank Lampard has confirmed that Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin could face six weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury.
With Richarlison having left for Tottenham Hotspur and Salomon Rondon suspended for Saturday's Premier League opener with Chelsea, Lampard had planned to use Calvert-Lewin down the middle of his attack.
However, reports emerged earlier this week that the England international had sustained an issue with his knee during training.
Addressing the problem at a press conference on Thursday, Lampard acknowledged that the injury to the 25-year-old had come as a blow.
Speaking to reporters, the Englishman said: "Losing a player like Dominic going into the first week is obviously going to affect you. I think we're probably looking at six weeks for the injury.
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"It comes with the territory of having a squad and training at this level. We'll have to work around it and other players will have to set up and do the job and hopefully six weeks passes relatively quickly and we get Dominic back."
With minimal alternatives, either new arrival Dwight McNeil or Dele Alli may be given the freedom to play in a false nine position against the West Londoners.
In the corresponding fixture during 2021-22, Everton posted a 1-0 victory, a crucial result on their way to avoiding relegation to the Championship.
Nevertheless, Lampard has admitted that his former club - who are expected to field fresh faces Kalidou Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling - will prove to be difficult opponents.
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The Blues legend added: "It's a tough game to start the season. It's nice to be at home in front of their home fans. It's nice to have a relative clean slate at the start of the season. I never felt that we had that.
"Chelsea were always going to be a difficult opponent because of the quality of thee squad, the quality of the manager. We just have to take it as that."
While Lampard refused to speak directly about further potential incomings, he indicated that he wanted to bring in a new central-forward before the start of September.
Everton have also been linked with an approach for Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Conor Coady, who may be allowed to leave Molineux.
Darren Plant
