‘Asking for trouble’ – Exclusive: Campbell weighs in on Calvert-Lewin Everton debate
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell believes that it would be good management if Everton were to rest Dominic Calvert-Lewin over the Christmas period.
Calvert-Lewin has started all of Everton’s Premier League games this season and he has become a key player for Carlo Ancelotti with his incredible goalscoring form.
Despite his importance to the Toffees’ performances, Campbell believes that it wouldn’t be dangerous to rest Calvert-Lewin over Christmas.
Speaking to Goodison News, Campbell said, “It’s not dangerous at all, it’s good management because Dominic Calvert-Lewin could suffer burn out as the games start coming thick and fast.
“He’s an England international now and really you want him to be ready for the second part of the season because that’s when it really matters. It matters now, but it really matters then because you’re going onto the end of the season.
“Why not give him a rest or keep him on the bench so he can get 30 minutes here and there? It’s good management and it gets Cenk Tosun minutes because if the worst was to happen and Tosun was coming in without minutes under his belt, you’re asking for trouble.”
Calvert-Lewin has 11 goals in 13 league games this season which is the joint second-highest total in the Premier League.
With Moise Kean on loan at PSG, Cenk Tosun would be the likely replacement if Calvert-Lewin was to pick up a knock at some point.
Tosun has only played 32 minutes of league action this season and is yet to score which will be a worry for Toffees fans if their star man is ruled out for an extended period.
There is no harm in resting Calvert-Lewin if the occasion ever comes where Everton are comfortably winning a game and aren’t looking for more goals.
Those opportunities have been hard to come by this season however as five of the club’s eight league wins have been won by a one-goal margin.
Perhaps Ancelotti will be tempted into the transfer market in January in an effort to sign adequate back up for his star striker.
At the moment, if Calvert-Lewin is fit he has to play. He is too important to be rested as the Toffees approach a vital period of the season.
In other Everton news, Leon Osman believes that Ancelotti deserves plenty of credit after the Toffees’ recent run of form.