Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin plays in behind-closed-doors friendly

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has stepped up his recovery from a long injury lay-off by playing in a behind-closed-doors friendly.

The 26-year-old has not featured since February 4 – manager Sean Dyche’s first match in charge after replacing Frank Lampard – but is understood to have had a 70-minute run-out in a 1-0 defeat against National League North side Chester at the club’s Finch Farm training complex.

Calvert-Lewin has struggled with injury for the last couple of years, missing four months of the previous campaign before pulling out on the eve of this season’s opening game with a knee injury.

He did not make the first of his 12 appearances until October, then missed all of November and December before returning for a run of six matches before being sidelined by a hamstring problem.

Dyche has been particularly cautious with the England international, not wanting to bring him back too early and risk aggravating the problem, despite their precarious position outside the relegation zone on goal difference only.

However, he could now consider putting him in the squad for Saturday’s crucial trip to Crystal Palace.

Fellow first-teamers Yerry Mina, Conor Coady, Nathan Patterson, Abdoulaye Doucoure – currently serving a three-match Premier League suspension – Tom Davies, Ellis Simms and Mason Holgate also all featured in the friendly.