Everton’s hopes of surviving in the Premier League took another hit this week, with winger Andros Townsend being ruled out for the rest of the campaign, according to a statement from the club.
The statement read: “Andros Townsend will miss the rest of the season after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final tie at Crystal Palace.
“The Everton winger was forced off on 16 minutes at Selhurst Park and replaced by Demarai Gray. A scan revealed Townsend’s ACL knee injury and he will undergo surgery next week before starting his rehabilitation with Everton’s medical staff at Finch Farm.”
Lampard will be gutted
The former Newcastle and Crystal Palace star, who graduated from Tottenham’s youth academy, arrived at the club on a free transfer this summer, and made an excellent start to his Everton career, scoring five goals and assisting three more in his first nine games for the club.
The winger was a key player under Rafa Benitez in the first half of the season, and the Spanish manager regularly praised him, and he even once said about him: “You cannot buy this leadership, this characteristics on the fifth floor of…John Lewis.”
Since Benitez was sacked and replaced by Frank Lampard, Townsend has started just three games, with two of them coming in the FA Cup, with him more often than not being deployed from off the bench, or being left on there altogether.
Despite not being picked by his current manager, the 13-time England international ranks in the top 1% among wingers and attacking midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues and continental competitions for crosses into the penalty area per 90 (0.90) – and when you have aerial threats like Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Cenk Tosun and Richarlison, his deliveries are a dangerous weapon to have.
The 30-year-old also remains an excellent presser and hard-worker on defence, ranking in the top 9% for successful pressures per 90 (6.18), top 10% for tackles per 90 (2.08), and making the most blocks per 90 in Europe’s top five leagues and continental competitions with 2.78.
Even if Lampard wasn’t going to start him often going into the business end of the season, Townsend would have remained a reliable option from off the bench, who guarantees energy, passion and commitment whenever he steps onto the pitch. As a result, the boss will be gutted to see lose him while in the midst of a relegation fight.
In other news: Big blow: EFC supporters surely fuming as behind-scenes claim emerges from Finch Farm
