Peter Reid reacts to ‘frustrating’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin developments at Everton
Peter Reid is glad that Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin has come through a “frustrating” period by keeping himself injury free.
Calvert-Lewin’s seven seasons at Goodison Park have largely been plagued by spells on the sidelines with various injury issues.
The 26-year-old also missed nearly a month earlier this campaign with a facial injury, but he has played in each of the Toffees’ past five games.
Reid believes keeping Calvert-Lewin fit from hereon in could be pivotal to Everton staying in the Premier League.
“I think he’s a really good footballer,” Reid told the Liverpool Echo. “Obviously, he has had his injury problems, and I had loads of injury problems, so I know what he has been going through.
“I think he’s a threat, and he is a really good player; he gets in behind, and he puts defenders under pressure because he wants to score.
“His injuries have been muscular, and if you can’t get on the park, it is difficult.
“Every footballer wants to play, so it has been frustrating [for him] and it has been frustrating for Evertonians, but hopefully he is back and he can get a run of games. If he gets a run of games, I think we will be okay.”
Good sign
Despite the arrivals of Beto and Youssef Chermiti in the summer, Calvert-Lewin is still Everton’s star forward.
Not only has DCL been available for Everton’s past five games, he has found the net in three of those – against Brentford, Aston Villa and Luton Town.
There is no doubt that, when available, the England international is among the best forward players anywhere in the Premier League.
Even when not scoring, as was the case in the 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday [7 October], Calvert-Lewin’s importance is still clear to see.
The former Sheffield United player has come through this most recent string of games unscathed, which is a hugely promising sign.
Let’s just hope that remains the case when club action resumes on 21 October with a huge Merseyside derby showdown against Liverpool at Anfield.
In other Everton news, Chris Sutton described something he saw in the Bournemouth game as an “absolute stinker”.