Everton: Troy Deeney sends ‘really weird’ message to Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Troy Deeney has offered some advice to Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin after he overcame his goal drought with a penalty in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle at St James’ Park.
The former Watford striker insisted Calvert-Lewin should go back to basics in training to get used to finding the net again, although his game isn’t all about scoring goals.
He went on to suggest that there would be a “really weird” mentality shift if he starts finding the net more regularly, which could see his confidence in front of goal rocket.
Speaking live on talkSPORT [16:41], Deeney shared: “I was lucky enough that I was sort of in the Calvert-Lewin model where my game wasn’t all about my goals. It was about the link-up play, affecting the team, defensive set pieces, all of these things.
“I think when you look at him, you should strip it back to the basics. Sometimes you might need to do a shooting drill with no goalie. Just start finding your angles again, get used to seeing the ball hit the net.
“When you are going through a goal drought you snatch at everything thinking ‘this one has to go in’, but when you’re in it you’re just like ‘I’ll score’, and it’s a really weird mentality shift.
“It’s about being as related and as calm as you can be because you’re going to miss more than you score, that’s the life of a striker.”
Troy Deeney sends message to Everton star Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Calvert-Lewin had not found the net since October before his goal at St James’ Park, but an 88th-minute penalty to draw his side level against Newcastle may have put him back on the right track.
Deeney has been the latest former striker to lend some advice to Everton’s number-nine after Alan Shearer advised him to continue getting in forward positions and eventually, a goal will fall to him – with that finally coming true against Newcastle.
The competition of Beto, who found the net against Bournemouth before struggling against Newcastle, has not provided much respite for Calvert-Lewin or Everton as neither striker has proved to be a consistent threat.
Perhaps that penalty could be the turning point for the forward and will give him the confidence to start finding the net at a time when Sean Dyche’s team are desperate for a consistent source of goals amid their relegation battle.
In other Everton news, Chris Sutton has shared a new Dyche verdict at Goodison.
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