Ben Godfrey injury: Defender facing months out after suffering leg break against Chelsea

The centre-back was hurt making a challenge after the ball had gone out of play but the match was allowed to continue

Richard Jolly
Saturday 06 August 2022 20:56 BST
Comments
(REUTERS)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Ben Godfrey is set to be out for several months after breaking his leg after 10 minutes of the season in Everton’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Everton also lost fellow centre-back Yerry Mina to an ankle injury on a damaging opening day at Goodison Park when Godfrey was stretchered off and taken to hospital after being hurt in a challenge with Kai Havertz.

“It is a small fracture of his fibula bone. It will be months more than weeks, for sure, but I don’t know how long,” said manager Frank Lampard. “We are thinking two or three months but that is a really quick assessment, With Yerry, I have got no idea. We are assessing that.”

Everton are interested in Wolves captain Conor Coady though Lampard is waiting to see if defensive injuries will force him back into the transfer market.

But he is close to strengthening his squad as Lille midfielder Amadou Onana, who has had a medical at Goodison Park, was in the directors’ box as he looks set to complete a £33 million move.

“We are nearly there,” Lampard said. “He is fantastically talented young player, great attributes. We have followed him for a long time and I think he is going be a really good player.”

Lampard felt Everton merited a point, though they lost to his former club because of a penalty that Abdoulaye Doucoure conceded and Jorginho converted.

“I don’t think we deserved to lose,” Lampard said. “In terms of both boxes and chances created I thought a draw would have been a fair result. I thought the performance was good. On another day you don’t lose the game.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in