Sean Dyche is taking confidence from Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s wider displays – and his role in Everton’s unbeaten run – as the wait for goals goes on
The goals will flow if Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues reaching the standards set across recent weeks, Everton staff believe.
The striker has missed a host of big opportunities over the last few games, including against Newcastle United and at Ipswich Town. Yet his barren spell has coincided with Everton’s five match unbeaten run – something that is not being lost at Finch Farm, where the view is that the 27-year-old’s wider performances have been key to the team’s upturn in form.
Blues boss Sean Dyche is certainly content with his work – something that is likely to factor into his preparations for the trip to Southampton, the build-up for which has seen calls for Beto to be given a chance after his last minute heroics against Fulham.
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Asked what the view of Calvert-Lewin inside the club currently is, Dyche suggested it was considered a matter of time before he added to the two Premier League goals he has for the campaign.
He said: “He’s working hard at his game and finding that streak which brought him goals previously. He hasn’t scored regularly for a while and getting back in that zone can come. We speak about it endlessly as managers, finding a goal can get it started when being in the right area and it hits you and goes in.
“All them different things can start a goalscorer scoring again but you’ve got to stick at it. You have to maintain performances. I’ve spoken to him about performances, the level of the consistency and trying to find it. Goals will come if you keep making sure you’re playing well and running hard, goals will come.”
Dyche’s belief that Calvert-Lewin’s luck will change chimes with what happened earlier this year. Calvert-Lewin struggled for goals as Everton went more than four months without a league win. Then days after he earned a draw at Newcastle with a courageous late penalty, Calvert-Lewin scored the winner that broke the record-breaking streak when then-Burnley keeper Arijanet Muric smashed a clearance against his body. Further goals then followed – including his header in the historic Merseyside derby win weeks later.
Muric was in goal at Ipswich Town last month when Calvert-Lewin produced an important performance but a goalless one, the keeper making three saves, including two when the striker was through on goal.
For Dyche, who insists uncertainty about Calvert-Lewin’s future will not impact the team, it is positive he is getting those chances. As long as that continues they believe it is inevitable he will find the back of the net.
Dyche, who has been key in helping Calvert-Lewin overcome the long-term fitness issues that threatened to ruin his career, said: “That [consistency] hasn’t been there for a long period now, before I was here. I think he had the two seasons back to back when he scored a decent amount of goals and it has been up and down with injuries, fitness, loss of fitness, true fitness etc etc. That hasn’t been helpful.
“His fitness has been good this season and at the end of last season. Now the next layer is how many times can you get in the key areas? Against Ipswich for example, they [chances] will go in if you keep getting in the right areas. That’s just the way it goes. You have to keep maintaining your standards and keep going in there. You can’t lose belief. Hit the right places at the right time and eventually goals go in.”
