Goodison View: Critchley comments suggest Everton may have next DCL in Ellis Simms
Ellis Simms shone in the Everton youth ranks and recent performances suggest he is taking to senior football with the same ease.
The 20-year-old joined League One side Blackpool in January on a loan deal until the end of the season and it has been some introduction for the youngster.
The Seasiders are unbeaten in the five games Simms has started so far but his highlight has to be his 21-minute cameo v Wigan that saw him net twice off the bench.
His performance in their 3-0 win victory over Charlton Athletic on Saturday has earned him some glowing praise from Blackpool boss Neil Critchley who will know better than most the potential Simms possesses, after managing in the Liverpool youth ranks prior to his Bloomfield Road move.
As reported on the Blackpool Gazette website, Critchley was effusive in his praise for the Blues loanee, as he said: “Ellis was a real handful, him and Jerry [Yates] were to be fair.
“We thought we could get some success against their two centre-backs and we were searching for balls down the sides of them and in behind them.
“I thought he was a real handful all game, a real physical presence for us and he caused them a lot of problems.”
A ‘real handful’, a real ‘physical presence’…who does that remind you of?
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been our shining light this season and his tally of 13 Premier League goals is bettered only by Mohamed Salah, Bruno Fernandes and Harry Kane.
DCL is the perfect number nine in many ways, not least his ability to be a focal point at the point of the Everton attack and hold the ball up to bring others into play.
The England international has proved to be an utter revelation in the air with a record of five headed goals in the Premier League this season unmatched.
He started his professional career at Sheffield United and made his name in League One just like Simms is trying to do, before the Blues swooped for his services in 2016.
After a slow start, he has blossomed into one of the Premier League’s most feared forwards and can be an inspiration for Simms to follow in the coming years.
The future at Goodison Park is bright and who knows, maybe it will be sooner rather than later that Simms joins DCL in attack to form a formidable, bruising partnership to terrorise defences.
In other Everton news, Carlo Ancelotti claims Blues fans have Marcel Brands to thank for Abdoulaye Doucoure signing.