By David Lynch, Merseyside Correspondent

20th Apr, 2023 | 4:27pm

Sources: Everton star Ruben Vinagre expected to miss rest of season

Ruben Vinagre’s forgettable Everton loan spell is expected to end without him making a further first-team appearance, sources have told Football Insider.

Sean Dyche revealed on Thursday that the Portuguese has suffered an injury setback in training, saying: “He may need surgery; we are not sure yet. He’s seeing a specialist, so that decision will be made imminently.”

Football Insider now understands that the recovery required in either circumstance means Vinagre’s season is almost certainly over.

The 24-year-old has managed to clock up just 24 minutes of Premier League action since joining Everton on a season-long loan from Sporting Lisbon in July.

His last appearance for the club came in a November defeat to Bournemouth in the EFL Cup and he has featured in just two squads since Dyche was appointed as Frank Lampard’s successor in January.

As such, there is no chance of the Toffees opting to trigger a £9m permanent clause contained in their deal with Sporting Lisbon this summer.

Despite Vinagre suffering a fresh fitness blow, Dyche has been handed some good news from the Everton medical staff this week.

Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is in contention to take a place in the squad to face Crystal Palace on Saturday after coming through a midweek behind-closed-doors friendly unscathed.

The Englishman played around 70 minutes as the Blues suffered a 1-0 defeat to local National League North side Chester at their Finch Farm training ground.

Amadou Onana is also expected to be back for Palace having made a successful return to training after missing last week’s defeat to Fulham at Goodison Park with a groin problem.

However, club captain Seamus Coleman remains sidelined for the foreseeable with a thigh issue.

In other news, Everton investors will demand a role in the club’s boardroom.