Tough run, but new England star tells Toffees not to panic KEEP THE FAITH
BEN GODFREY’S England caps are a constant reminder to the Everton defender about where he wants to be.
Rafa Benitez’s men face a make-or-break period that will define their season after picking up just a single point from their last six games.
A victory at Brentford would get Everton looking upwards.
Anything else and a campaign, which promised so much in the summer, could become a fight to avoid a relegation battle.
Godfrey, 23, does not need any extra motivation, but, with the World Cup nearing, the two England appearances he made in the build-up to the
Euros are a source of inspiration. “I got the two caps not long ago,” said Godfrey, who played against Austria and Romania, but was left out of Gareth Southgate’s final squad for the tournament.
“They are at my house on display. My family haven’t actually seen them yet, so they’re looking forward to that.
“But it’s nice, really good. I like stuff like that. I have all my caps and trophies on
display and the two caps are something I will really look after.
“They aren’t so much a reminder of what I’ve achieved. It’s more a case of reminding me of what I want more of in the future.
“When you’re going through spells like this, looking at your England caps is a reminder of where you are and where you need to get to.
“They help me mentally to kick on.
“The bad run we’re on is all part of football. I remain confident – and I back myself to get back to my
best and the form of last
The England caps aren’t a reminder of what I have achieved, but of what I want more of in the future
season. We’ve had a few games where we haven’t performed. But football isn’t rosy all the time, is it?
“At this stage of the season, you win a couple of games and you find yourself climbing up that table again.
“That’s why there is nothing too much to panic about.”
Benitez’s plans have been disrupted by injuries.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has not played since scoring in the first three games of the season, while a casualty list that also includes Andre Gomes, Yerry Mina, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Tom Davies and Demarai Gray will be more keenly felt with Richarlison and Mason Holgate suspended.
Godfrey doesn’t do excuses – not even when he is given the chance to put his own patchy form down to a Covid fight that left him feeling like he was playing “in someone else’s body.”
He added: “Obviously, we have some players missing, but we have quality and depth in our squad and, as a team, we believe in each other.
“We aren’t short of players to replace them – and we have a job to do.
“People can make excuses about everything in life, but when players are out injured, we’ve still got good players to come in.
“You can’t say our form is just down to injuries. It is about other things as well on the day.”
Godfrey added: “I feel pretty much back to myself now.
“I went through those first few games, after coming back, where I was struggling a little bit, but I’m pretty much back to normal now and ready to kick on.
“I am sure it is on every English lad’s mind to be on that plane for the World Cup and it would be wrong for me to say it’s not in my thoughts, wouldn’t it?
“It’s always a dream for a lad to represent their country – and it was a proud moment for me and my family in the summer.
“But all I can do now is keep moving forward and, hopefully, put in some good performances for Everton.”