DOM’S Striker puts on a
FIVE five months ago Dominic Calvert-Lewin kept Everton in the Premier League with a priceless late goal against Crystal Palace.
But against the same opposition on only his second start of this campaign, the striker may just have produced an equally important finish - for himself at least – in front of watching England boss Gareth Southgate.
The centre-forward has been plagued with injury over the past year, but his significant contribution here suggested the sharpness which made him an automatic choice in Southgate’s squad may just have returned in time to be considered for the World Cup.
It depends now on whether the England boss had already made up his mind on the preliminary 55-man squad that has apparently been submitted to FIFA, but will not be made public by the manager.
His presence yesterday at Goodison though suggests Calvert-Lewin is still under consideration for the final 26-player squad that will go to Qatar next month.
Even if he isn’t, if someone gets injured before the finals from the chosen 26, then Southgate is at liberty to select who he likes.
Calvert-Lewin said: “It’s every boy’s dream to go to the World Cup. I’ve been counting down the days to get back on the pitch and all I can do is play the best I can for Everton and score and see where that takes me. First and foremost it’s what I do here.
“It’s a great feeling to be back at Goodison. For the team and for myself to get the win it went exactly how I hoped.
“It’s been a while, one I’ve been looking forward to and I felt like myself. It’s been a long time coming but great to get the result.”
What joyous Everton fans saw here on a positively balmy afternoon was a hitman who hinted at the previous levels of both sharpness and confidence which made him an international regular. And one who is actually fit and fresh.
His goal which effectively decided the course of this contest, and gave the home side a hugely important victory after three straight defeats left the Blues perilously close to the relegation zone, was the old Calvert-Lewin – the player who tormented Premier League defenders under Carlo Ancelotti.
His manager Frank Lampard, though has argued his striker is now ready to rediscover the form of his prime. Those words were given resonance by his goal on 11 minutes, when he cleverly rolled another England contender Marc Guehi, to send a fierce, precise shot screaming into the net.
Southgate can only have marvelled at his hold-up play and physical presence, but also his passing and movement, which gave Everton a platform they have lacked this season.
It meant the game seemed over long before Anthony Gordon’s tap-in and a late finish from sub Dwight McNeil rubber-stamped the victory.
“I think we were second best in every department of the game,” said Palace manager Patrick
Vieira.