Everton are set to be without Ben Godfrey for the coming weeks after the Englishman was forced off in the early stages of the Toffees' 4-1 FA Cup fourth-round win over Brentford.

What's the latest?

According to new manager Frank Lampard, it isn't sounding good. The 43-year-old said: "It's a hamstring injury which is to be assessed.

"We'll have to let it settle for two days and then scan it, not good. He'll be missing for a period of time depending on the severity of the injury, but it's a hamstring."

The 24-year-old only lasted 14 minutes of the Englishman's first game as Everton boss before suffering the injury, being replaced by Yerry Mina who later scored the first goal of the Lampard era.

Fans will be sweating

Having made the cut for his first game, it appears as though Godfrey will be high up the pecking order under the new Everton manager, at least would've been for the opening matches.

Moreover, Lampard opted to play a 3-4-3 formation against the Bees which means that he'll need a handful of fit centre-backs available at all times to continue with the same set-up, which makes the defender's injury a particularly hefty blow, one that will surely leave supporters sweating.

Although this season has been somewhat of a disaster so far for the Merseyside club, Godfrey has been a regular, making 17 Premier League appearances, having been out of the squad for the first three matches of the campaign.

In fairness, none of Everton's centre-backs have been particularly great this campaign with the Toffees conceding 35 goals in their 21 league matches thus far.

Furthermore, the Blues have only mustered three clean sheets in their 24 matches across all competitions with their regular leakiness at the back something Lampard will have to see to immediately.

When it comes to matches played this season, only Michael Keane has played more at centre-back than Godfrey, playing 19 games in the top-flight.

There have certainly been glimpses of promise though from the former Shrewsbury defender after his move from Norwich City in October 2020 and, at 24, Godfrey will only improve.

In other news: One Everton ace proved Lampard wrong with an outstanding performance yesterday