DOMINIC CALVERT BREWIN’
Goodison star angered by all the questions about his character and is determined to silence the critics
DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN has promised Everton and England fans that they can rely on him for club and country next season.
The 25-year-old striker lost his England place last season because of his injury troubles, which saw him miss more than half the domestic campaign.
He accepts that, after going into a “dark place” during his injury hell, he did not deserve to be selected for Gareth Southgate’s squad, but has vowed to return better than ever this season.
Speaking to the Everton website, he said: “It was my first experience of a long spell out – the biggest battle was the mental one. I found myself in some dark places.
“But I can confidently say I am in a better position, physically, to help and score goals and, most importantly, allow my teammates to rely on me again.”
And that includes England, with forward (below) ready to push his way back into the reckoning in time for the World Cup in November, a stage he believes suits him.
“In my opinion, I belong there, but I didn’t do enough in the previous games for Everton to warrant a place,” he said. “I am realistic – this is England, there are a lot of good players to pick from.
“I’d have an argument if I’d been scoring goals, but I look at my performances since I’ve come back and they have been hit-and-miss. But, for the standard I set myself and coming back from injury, there is more to come.
Referring to Southgate, he added: “The manager didn’t speak to me, but I am not high-maintenance, so it didn’t need a conversation. “That is where I belong and want to be – I’m working hard to get in a position where I deserve to be there and I know what I need to do.” Calvert-Lewin has some-times drawn criticism for his outside interests, such as magazine fashion shoots (below, in a modelling shot and as the face of Braun), but he says he is dedicated to his profession.
“People can misinterpret doing stuff outside football as not focusing on your craft,” he said. “Every choice I make, I consider, ‘How will this affect my football?’ That’s been the case since I was a young kid. I have devoted my whole life to football.
“What people read on social media or see on news outlets is a fraction of my life. Nobody knows what I do behind closed doors and how much work I put in. They don’t live with me in my house, so they will never know. I devote everything to my craft and improving as a footballer.”
Everton will head off interest in Calvert-Lewin’s fellow forward Anthony Gordon, 21, by offering a huge new contract.
Newcastle are the latest club to make an approach for the England Under-21 star, looking to add young British talent to their roster, and it is understood they value him at £35million.
But, despite their financial troubles, the Blues hierarchy have made it clear that there will be no deal for Gordon this summer.
And boss Frank Lampard has indicated he is determined to retain his best English talent.