DCL: I’M FIT TO FIRE UP BLUES AGAIN

DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN had heard the whispers that he did not care about Everton’s plight, that he was just in it for the money.

Earlier in the season some of the travelling Toffees fans booed him during a 4-0 defeat at Aston Villa as, once again, the Merseyside club were sucked into the relegation zone.

Their frustration had built up over the past season, with the England striker often out injured, limiting him to just two goals in the battle to remain in the Premier League.

It is why he and manager Sean Dyche came to an agreement that the 26-year-old would only return to first-team action when he was 100 percent fit. Too often Calvert-lewin had come back too quickly – only for his body to break down again.

He said: “I’ve been a victim of my own eagerness in trying to rush back and also the expectation from others – I think it turned into a bit of a vicious cycle.

“Now since the manager came in, he’s been big on me trusting my body again and feeling good in my body.

“It took a lot of guts from the manager to bat off questions about me every week – that gave me confidence and a bit of relief.”

Although he did not add to his two goals in successive games, Calvertlewin’s

presence was instrumental in Everton gaining their first home Premier League win of the season against Bournemouth last week.

And he hopes it is perfect timing, with his Blues playing Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.

“I do care about the Everton fans – and I do care about this club,” he added. “Wearing the Everton No.9 is something that fuels me. I’m back – and the fire has been lit again.”