Paul Merson: Everton fans should lay off Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the man who can save Everton from relegation and fans should get off his back according to Paul Merson.
The striker scored in the first three league games of the season, before injury kept him out of action for an extended period, and he hasn’t found the net since.
Analysis from the Liverpool Echo yesterday (Thursday 10 March) suggested that supply from his teammates did not appear to be the issue, but the player himself struggling, when the relegation-threatened Toffees need his goals more than ever.
In his column in the Daily Star, Merson writes: “Frank Lampard has got to rely on Dominic Calvert-Lewin to save Everton.
“If he turns up and starts scoring goals, they will be alright. But he was injured for a long time and doesn’t look anywhere near fit.
“Some of the fans have turned against Calvert-Lewin – but I think they need to stop giving him stick because Everton need him.”
Time running out
As the club’s fortunes took a nose-dive in the England forward’s absence hopes for a revival were pinned on his return.
But that simply hasn’t materialised and some fans have been frustrated by his lack of output.
There is little to suggest that he is the player who can drag the team out of the relegation mire, with the word “if” playing a crucial role in Merson’s assessment.
Lampard really doesn’t have time to wait for the 24-year-old to ease himself back into form.
The next two home games against Wolves and Newcastle have been pegged as vital to the Toffees’ hopes, considering the abysmal away form and the calibre of the home opposition otherwise.
A visit from Brentford is only other obvious opportunity for a win in the fixture list.
Calvert-Lewin has proven himself capable of competing with the top teams in the past, hence the continuing links with a move to Arsenal (Daily Star).
But whether it is fitness or just form that is currently deserting him, the manager might need to forget about relying on his top striker for immediate future.
In other Everton news, Lampard has bemoaned the “constant negativity” he’s encountering at the club.
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