Everton attacker Demarai Gray ‘100%’ committed to new role under Sean Dyche
Everton attacker Demarai Gray has committed to giving “100%” in his new centre-forward role at the Toffees under manager Sean Dyche.
The 26-year-old largely operated as a winger at previous clubs Birmingham, Leicester, Bayer Leverkusen and current side Everton, but that has changed in recent matches.
Amid a lack of central options in the final third, new Toffees boss Dyche has turned to Gray in a bid to successfully fill the gap.
“It’s a shift,” said Gray, as quoted by the official Everton website. “I’m enjoying it. For me, it’s just about being on the pitch, trying to help the boys and contribute where I can.
“I always try to contribute with goals and assists but it’s about working hard wherever I’m asked to play. Whatever role I’m given, I’m going to give 100%.”
Stepping up
The meeting with Chelsea represented the third successive match that Gray has been utilised centrally by Dyche, with the attacker putting in a tireless shift for the entire 90 minutes.
And while it was substitute Ellis Simms who took the glory with his late equaliser, Gray is grateful to his manager for the run of starts, especially in such difficult and important matches.
His regular place in the starting XI comes following a drop out from Neal Maupay, as well as the more noticeable absence of undisputed number one striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has been impacted by injuries all season.
The Toffees are now unbeaten in their last three matches, with Gray featuring prominently in all three, including scoring from the spot in the draw against Nottingham Forest.
With Calvert-Lewin still not 100% fit, Gray looks certain to be the man tasked with leading the line in the huge upcoming fixtures against Tottenham and Manchester United, although youngster Ellis Simms is also staking a claim following his goal against Chelsea.