Dominic Calvert-Lewin still ‘number one’ for Sean Dyche at Everton despite Beto arrival
Journalist Paul Brown has claimed Dominic Calvert-Lewin is still the first-choice striker at Everton, with Beto arriving to provide competition rather than to take his place in the team.
Brown also claimed that it is unlikely the two will start up front together and that one will be starting games while the other can come off the bench late on to cause potential problems if the Toffees are struggling.
Beto arrived at Everton from Udinese in the summer as a result of the club’s focus on bringing in options to provide the goals after a disappointing season in front of goal.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT on 13 September, Brown claimed: “I think he’s there to put pressure on Calvert-Lewin, to introduce a little bit of competition and to come in when Calvert-Lewin isn’t fit.
“So I think it’s unlikely that the two of them start together. I think you might see whoever gets the job starting on a regular basis, and then the other one coming in at the end of games depending on the situation and how the game needs to be managed.
“But I do still think that Sean Dyche regards Calvert-Lewin as his number one if he’s fully fit, so it’ll be very interesting to see what happens there.”
Healthy competition works for everyone
Calver-Lewin’s performances at Goodison Park last season were simply not good enough, and when you add his repetitive injury struggles to that then it is understandable why the club spent the majority of the transfer window searching for a new striker.
With the competition now being provided by a player the calibre of Beto, the former England international will have to step up to the plate and prove to Sean Dyche and the Goodison crowd that he deserves a starting spot, by providing the goals.
However, it also seems unlikely that the club would have spent such a high fee at around £26million [Sky Sports] on a striker who would play second-fiddle to one they already have. The Portuguese will be looking to make that striker spot his own.
With the competition for places hotting up, it should see both players up their game in order to guarantee themselves a place in the team, which can only be a good thing for the football club.
In other Everton news, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards have reacted to the takeover news.