DYCHE LONG GAME WORKS FOR DOM

SEAN DYCHE believes patience has paid off with Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The Everton boss (inset) refused to rush the star striker back from a hamstring injury despite desperately needing goals during his latest absence.

Calvert-Lewin, 26, was out for more than a month after picking up the problem in Dyche’s first game as Everton boss back in February.

It was the latest setback in an injury-ravaged couple of seasons for the front man. But the Toffees took their time to get him ready and he has a goal and assist in his three games back. The latter came in the 5-1 destruction of in-form Brighton on Monday night which has sparked real belief the Blues can beat the drop as they sit two points above the relegation zone.

Dyche said: “It is patience in the sense of the risk and reward scenarios and it is difficult sometimes.

“You are very tempted as a manager to push players back in maybe too early. That doesn’t very often pay.

“More so with Dom’s recent history, we were trying to get him to a point where he was as close to being fully match fit as possible before you drop him back into full training.

“Often you would use full training to get the final bit of fitness. But because of his history I felt that it needed solving properly.

“We were unfortunate the first time round as he was just on the cusp of being fit and nicked his hamstring again, so we had to be extra careful. That was the challenge.” Now Calvert-Lewin (right) will face a much sterner test when Manchester City arrive at Goodison Park tomorrow.

But with Wolves and Bournemouth to come he’s going to be important in Dyche’s side finding another win which could be enough to keep

them up.