# Dominic Calvert-Lewin Suffers Facial Injury in Everton’s Defeat at Aston Villa
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was forced to leave the pitch after sustaining a facial injury in Sunday’s 4-0 defeat at Aston Villa. The 26-year-old was substituted after 38 minutes following a collision with Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez as he challenged for the ball.
Calvert-Lewin has a bruised face and will undergo further assessment with the club’s medical staff this week, with the Englishman needing to follow the FA’s concussion protocols before returning to action. He attempted to continue in the game but was clearly struggling and appeared to be jeered by his own supporters when walking off the pitch, prompting Calvert-Lewin to put his thumb up in their direction before heading down the tunnel.
Manager Sean Dyche said after the game they were “hoping it’s just a knock” but it seems the injury suffered by Calvert-Lewin is worse than first feared. The striker has struggled with injury and managed just two goals across the entirety of last term, and has only scored four times in the league since August 2021. He has completed 90 minutes only four times since the start of last season, including just once since January.