Calvert-Lewin says Ferguson ‘passion’ rubs off on Everton players
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has recently returned to action after a long injury layoff and he is relishing being back playing at Goodison Park.
The 24-year-old has played two lots of 90 minutes this month since his recovery but he feels ready to start scoring again when Aston Villa come to town on Saturday.
Speaking to talkSPORT (Friday 21 January; 09:20 GMT), Calvert-Lewin admitted he didn’t realise how long a few months off can feel like and it took him time to get back into the wing of things.
“It’s the first time in my career that I’ve gone through a period like this,” Calvert-Lewin said, “You can underestimate how long four or five months is and it takes a few sessions to start getting your mojo back.
“Everyone was hoping and praying that I was going to come back in and score hat-trick after hat-trick and that’s not been the case.
“I believe that I’m getting there and I’m looking forward to the game against Villa at the weekend and scoring.”
The England international also expressed his excitement with Duncan Ferguson in caretaker charge as he has huge admiration for the impact the Scot has at the club.
“We can definitely recreate that Chelsea game that Dunc first took charge in and he’s just got a way of captivating players and I think his passion and his love for football and the club definitely rubs off and that’s one of his biggest traits,” he added.
Most vital player
There is no escaping the fact that Everton have dearly missed having Calvert-Lewin lead the line for the majority of the season so far.
They’ve won just three league games since his absence having taken seven points from nine in the three games he played prior to his injury.
His first two games back weren’t record-breaking by any means but they have given him some much-needed match sharpness that he now needs to turn into goals.
And Everton need him firing as no one else at the club has shown signs of becoming a prolific goal-scorer in his absence.
Richarlison, Andros Townsend, Demarai Gray and Salomon Rondon have all been relied upon to bring the goals to Goodison Park but they can’t keep leaning on this kind of player to score them the goals needed to stay up.
The Toffees could go just one point behind Villa should they beat them on Saturday lunchtime.
In other Everton news, the club have reportedly offered the manager’s job to this former Ballon d’Or winner.