21 August 2023 , 17:49
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin's dad has criticised the Everton fans for allegedly abusing the forward after he picked up yet another injury during the Toffees' 4-0 defeat at Aston Villa.
The 26-year-old, who was named in the Toffees XI at Villa Park for the first time this season, was taken off in the 38th minute after clashing with Emiliano Martinez. Despite initially carrying on, Calvert-Lewin was later substituted as the swelling under his left eye left a massive bump.
Lewis Dobbin replaced the England international up front and he could not change the course of the match as the Toffees got thrashed in the West Midlands. John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Leon Bailey and Jhon Duran all struck for Unai Emery's men, leaving Everton pointless from two games.
Calvert-Lewin's dad Karlda was in attendance and revealed the ex-Sheffield United striker was subject to abuse from the Everton faithful. "The life of a Premier League footballer's Dad. The last time I went to Villa Park he was a 16 year old sub for Sheffield United," recalled Karlda in a Facebook post.
"Today I was there to see him start his first game in 2 years that he's been fully fit. I was nervous beyond belief but I knew how hard he'd worked to recover so had faith he'd be ok.
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"To see my Son hurt like that brought me to tears again. It always will no matter what age he is. He's now in hospital getting sorted. I hear the names he got called by his own 'fans' first hand and what I will say is this.
"My Son lives the dream daily like you wouldn't believe and that won't change, regardless of what some numpty Stone Island gear shouts. Stay bitter fellas. Stay bitter. So it's another little set back in a long list of set backs but he'll be alright. He always is."
However, the BBC report that the facial injury Calvert-Lewin suffered at Villa Park is set to keep him on the sidelines. He will undergo further assessment from the club's medical staff this week, and will also follow the FA's concussion protocols before returning to action.
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The defeat leaves Everton rock bottom in the Premier League table, having failed to win or score in their opening two matches. The Toffees fell to a 1-0 defeat against Fulham last weekend, before also losing at Villa and, speaking after, Sean Dyche admitted his side were "a long way off" their usual standards.
"They were the better side. We were a long way off, particularly after being a long way on last weekend because I thought we played very well," Dyche said. "So that was a bit of a surprise to me. We actually started not too bad.
"But the thing it reminded me of was, before I got here, we conceded a goal and you just smelt the group go soft very quickly and you concede another one and it’s like everyone is looking at everyone else to do something, and that was what I felt before I got here.
"We had a couple of moments like that last season but generally we kind of stopped that feeling and reminded the players of the resilience of being a footballer. Sometimes the weirdest thing as a manager is that you have to accept a collective down-day. That was a collective down-day."