Frank Lampard won't be sacked before the end of the season but he will lose his job if he doesn't guide Everton to Premier League safety, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The 43-year-old has endured a tough start to life since he replaced Rafael Benitez in the Goodison Park hotseat, with his Toffees side only above the relegation-zone on goal difference.

How has Lampard performed as Everton manager?

Lampard has guided Everton to the FA Cup quarter finals for just the second time in six years, but his side find themselves in the midst of a relegation battle at present.

Having lost his first league game in charge at Newcastle, Everton responded with an impressive 3-0 victory over Leeds and moved five points above the bottom three in the process.

However, four consecutive defeats without scoring has seen Lampard's side slip to 17th, with their 1-0 defeat to Wolves, coupled with Watford's win at Southampton, leaving them above the drop zone on goal difference.

Despite losing five of his six Premier League fixtures in charge of the club, Jones reckons that Lampard will get the opportunity to see out the rest of the campaign regardless of future results.

What did Jones say about Lampard?

He told GIVEMESPORT: "I can't see them getting rid of him before the end of the season, but if he takes them down, I can't imagine they would stick with him."

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Are Everton likely to get relegated?

Everton's game with Newcastle on Thursday could go some way to deciding whether their ever-present status as a Premier League club remains intact by the end of this season.

Lampard's side have a daunting fixture list, with five of the top six left to play, and judging by recent results, they're unlikely to come out of those games with much to show for their efforts.

Therefore, Thursday's game at Goodison Park is one of their biggest league fixtures for several years.

If the Toffees get the better of the Magpies, they will give themselves some breathing space in their battle against survival, but failing to win will only add to their concerns about ending their stay as a Premier League club.

Should Everton collect just a third league success since October, they'll move three points clear of 17th-place Watford, but anything less and it'll be viewed as points dropped.