Pundit shares ‘absolutely key’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin verdict as Everton ‘conundrum’ mooted
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is “absolutely key” for Everton and Sean Dyche this season, according to pundit Chris Sutton.
The striker missed the club’s Premier League opener against Fulham on Saturday (12 August) as he continues to work his way back to full fitness.
Toffees boss Dyche handed Neal Maupay a start against the Cottagers, who left Goodison Park with all three points in a 1-0 win.
“He is the key to their season,” Sutton said live on The Monday Night Club on BBC 5 Live Sport (14 August). “I think the last couple of seasons he has never had a sufficient run of games. But he is a natural-born finisher, he’s absolutely key for Sean Dyche and Everton.
“I think Sean Dyche does like to play with a focal point. And Calvert-Lewin is not just a goal scorer, he leads the line really, really well. So that’s going to be their conundrum again this season.”
Star man
Calvert-Lewin is undoubtedly the star striker for the Toffees, with the forward coming up with several important goals over the years. However, those goals have coincided with far too many injuries, with the striker seemingly never fully fit.
Dyche was forced to start Maupay in Calvert-Lewin’s absence in their league opener against Fulham, and the former really failed to impress at Goodison Park.
It was a superb chance for the former Brighton man to really get his Everton career up and running, but he now looks set to make his way back to the bench for the weeks ahead.
Everton had 19 shots against the Cottagers, proving that there is no lack of creativity, but more a lack of a natural finisher.
That’s what Calvert-Lewin is, but it remains to be seen whether or not he can shake off his latest injury issue and land regular playing time this season.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are in attacking “dismay” after breaking an unwanted Premier League record against Fulham.