Everton: Dominic Calvert-Lewin ‘more of a man’ after early-season injury struggles
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has claimed he is “more of a man” after injury struggles have limited his playing time at Everton this season.
Writing in the Everton matchday programme, as reported by BBC Sport (10 October), the striker admitted the difficulty of being on the sidelines after being unavailable for four games this season and after missing 21 Premier League fixtures last season.
Calvert-Lewin has scored three goals in all competitions this term, already surpassing his tally from the previous campaign.
Calvert-Lewin wrote: “Playing football is part of my identity. When you can’t do it and you’re not involved, you miss the training, the schedule, the camaraderie of being around the lads.
“I can’t really put into words how happy I am to be back playing. I think you can see it on my face. I’m an action man. I prefer to do than to think or to speak, so to be able to do it makes life a whole lot easier.
“It’s like I’ve gone from boy to man. I feel like I’m more of a man now with what I’ve had to deal with. I felt like I was perhaps on a steady upwards trajectory and then you hit a roadblock – and that’s when you have to look in the mirror and decide who you are going to be.
“It’s hard to be deprived of playing. But now to be back… the fire has been lit again.”
Hungry
Calvert-Lewin’s career has, through no fault of his own, taken something of a hit in the last few seasons. Once touted as Harry Kane’s best challenger for the England striker spot, the 26-year-old’s recurring injury woes have put a halt to his development.
Per Transfermarkt, he has been sidelined for 192 days since the start of last season, meaning he missed 21 games in all competitions.
He has not been selected by Gareth Southgate for the Three Lions since 2021 and with the likes of Ollie Watkins and Eddie Nketiah growing in quality in the meantime, Calvert-Lewin has a steep hill to climb to be in contention again.
But his great start to the new campaign has set him on the right path early on. His goal against Brentford sealed Everton’s first win of the season, while his strike in the 2-1 defeat to Luton Town was a personal confidence boost even if the team failed to deliver as a whole.
The former Sheffield United man’s attitude and commitment is admirable. Injuries are hard enough, but recurring short-term absences make it tougher to get back into the starting lineup as opposed to one long stretch of injury, but he has proved to be the club’s most effecting goalscorer despite the presence of Beto and Arnaut Danjuma.
In other Everton news, Alan Shearer has gushed over a Toffees ace who “ran the midfield” in their 3-0 win against Bournemouth.