Sean Dyche faced with new Dominic Calvert-Lewin ‘headache’ at Everton after Brentford win as fitness verdict issued
Sean Dyche now has a “really nice headache” at Everton now with a decision to make over which of his strikers he starts, according to Paul Brown.
Brown, a former Daily Star journalist, told GIVEMESPORT on 26 September that with the oft-injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin making a scoring return off the bench in the win at Brentford he could opt to start him over summer signing Beto who has led the line for the past three Premier League games.
The Portuguese was signed before the transfer window shut in a deal worth £25.75million [Sky Sports, 29 August] to finally provide suitable cover for his new English teammate, and his manager now has both available.
Brown said: “It’s a really nice headache for him to have. And there’s an argument for saying that now Calvert-Lewin has scored, he deserves to start. I think it ultimately comes down to fitness.
“I mean, the counterargument to that would be that, you could start with Beto and let him wear defenders down and then bring Calvert Lewin on for a bit of dynamism towards the end of the games, as they did in this one against Brentford.
“Especially if Calvert-Lewin is not maybe 100% match fit yet, so he could go either way with it.”
Options
For so long it has either been Calvert-Lewin in the line-up or Everton would know they were fighting an uphill battle from the off, given the difference the England international makes to the play.
Beto hasn’t yet reached the level of the man he has arrived to cover for, but has already suggested he will be an upgrade on Neal Maupay who was never a like-for-like Calvert-Lewin replacement but only ever seemed to be used as one.
The prospect of a Dyche 4-4-2 with both Toffees strikers in the line up is potentially even on the cards if it doesn’t weaken the midfield too much.
That sort of old-fashioned style would have possibly had fans up in arms a few seasons ago, but the situation has deteriorated to such an extent at Goodison Park in recent years that anything which produces regular results will do.
After the morale-boosting 3-1 win at Brentford last weekend the former Burnley boss is probably most likely to stick to the same gameplan for now, especially as he will still be reticent to rush Calvert-Lewin back in and risk yet another injury now that he isn’t under the same pressure to do so.
Beto from the start and then Calvert-Lewin off the bench to capitalise in the second half could be a winning formula if it works again, although the team can’t get ahead of themselves yet after only their first victory of the campaign.
In other Everton news, the club could be set to land new wave of young talent if 777 Partners complete takeover.