Walcott driven by desire to revive England career

Big six last season 51,391 min out of 225,312

PL overall last season 246,787 out of 751,229 then if I play well, who knows? But, yes, that’s obviously one big thing for me to get back into the England squad. I haven’t been in there for a couple of years now but, if I continue to play the right stuff I’m sure… I [can] enjoy myself and hopefully get back in there.

“But my goal isn’t to be thinking of England, my goal is to be playing well for Everton first, and then obviously we can cross that bridge when we come to it.

“But, yes, obviously you always want to play for your country. I’ve got 47 caps and I want that to be a lot more. So I’ll continue to play well and we’ll see where that takes me.”

For the second time this season, Everton rallied after being reduced to 10 men.

Walcott and Michael Keane put them 2-0 up after Richarlison clashed heads with Smith four minutes before half-time.

The goals came either side of Smith’s dismissal but, with numbers even, Bournemouth recovered through a Joshua King penalty, awarded for Leighton Baines’s push on Callum Wilson, and Nathan Ake’s late goal.

“It feels like a loss,” said Walcott. “I think you can sense the style we are playing is completely different to what we are used to and I am thoroughly enjoying it, to be part of the squad and a part of the transition stage as well.

“You’re always going to be judged on your goals and assists, so I am very pleased with how I have started.

“I’ve just got to keep it up and see where it takes me, but I’m very pleased with the way I’ve started and the team as well.”

Ryan Fraser, the Bournemouth winger, said: “Everton are different, pressing-wise. Maybe not so much on the ball, as they still get the ball wide, but pressing-wise, and they stay narrow most of the time. He [Silva] is a good manager. They should be looking at top six, top eight, but so should we.”