Everton’s Andros Townsend has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury. The 30-year-old was forced off in Sunday’s 4-0 defeat at his former club Crystal Palace in the FA Cup quarter-finals. A scan has revealed anterior cruciate ligament damage which will require surgery, delivering a blow to the club as they battle relegation. Everton said the winger would undergo an operation next week. Frank Lampard’s team are three points above the bottom three with 11 games remaining. They face West Ham, their relegation rivals Burnley and then Manchester United in their next three matches. Townsend has been among the substitutes for the past six Premier League games, coming on in three, but has started 17 times in the league this season.