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Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty Images
Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty Images

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‘He trains brilliantly’: Lampard stunned by £43k-a-week Everton player, could play tomorrow

Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte

Everton manager Frank Lampard has Toffees second-choice goalkeeper Asmir Begovic ahead of Sunday’s Premier League meeting with West Ham.

The 35-year-old joined the Goodison Park outfit last summer on a free transfer after leaving Bournemouth.

To date, Begovic has made eight appearances for Everton, three of which have come in the Premier League.

Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images
Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images

However, the Bosnia-Herzegovina international is now set to add to his top-flight tally for the Blues.

Jordan Pickford is currently nursing a thigh issue he picked up during the Merseyside derby.

The England international is likely to be out until after the international break.

Therefore, Begovic will likely step in for Pickford when Everton host the Hammers at Goodison Park.

“He’s always ready”

And Lampard has told the Toffees that he’s happy with how the veteran has fared in training.

On the goalkeeper situation, Lampard said: “It’s a really big loss because we all know what a great goalkeeper Jordan is for us – a great performer and a big personality.

“We’re fortunate to have a very strong number two in Asmir Begovic at the club.

“He trains brilliantly, performs brilliantly and is a number one, for me, in terms of his performance levels. It’s a plus that we can have that and a real strength of ours.

“Asmir has had plenty of time now to get his mind in gear, but I think he’s always ready. He trains at a high level and I’ve got no worries.

Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty Images
Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty Images

“We hope Jordan gets back off the other end of the international break. We’re hoping for Southampton or Manchester United, with the injury that it is.

“It’s a muscle injury so we have to be a bit careful with the rehab and we’ll keep monitoring it throughout.”

During the summer transfer window, Begovic was on the radar of Manchester United.

This shows how good a player he is.

Now, the ace will likely be tasked with keeping a strong West Ham front line at bay this weekend.