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Dominic Calvert-Lewin theories destroyed as Everton hero proves doubters wrong
It’s not how you start that’s important but how you finish – and if you’re a striker, in more ways than one – but while it took him until May, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is now Everton’s top scorer in the Premier League this season.
There have been other late flurries for such a title. Incredibly, back in 1999, Kevin Campbell ended up leading the way for the Blues despite only arriving at the club in March and netting his first goal until April 11!
However, for Calvert-Lewin this has been a far lengthier and more-complicated process. With just two fixtures remaining, his penalty at Kenilworth Road took him to seven for the 2023/24 Premier League campaign and one ahead of Abdoulaye Doucoure, who has had to overcome hamstring injuries in both legs over the past six months and hasn’t netted since the 2-0 home win over Chelsea on December 10.
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Following the 1-1 draw at Luton Town, Calvert-Lewin, who has netted four times in his last five matches, explained how he’s playing with a smile on his face again. He said: “I love scoring goals and it’s my job to do it. When I’m scoring goals, life feels better,” adding: “I enjoy coming in every day with these boys, and when you look to the side of you, you know we’re all going to work for each other and dig in.”
It’s all a far cry from the 23-game goalless streak he endured after becoming just the fourth Everton player to net 50 Premier League goals for the club when hitting the winner in a 1-0 victory at West Ham United on October 29 but even that barren run didn’t tell the full story. As the fallow fixtures mounted up, the frustration for a number nine paid to find the back of the net must have increased every time he took to the field but in reality it was something of a statistical anomaly.
Calvert-Lewin had goals taken off him both home and away against Tottenham Hotspur in unfortunate circumstances. His first at the London Stadium on December 23 was disallowed by VAR because Andre Gomes had applied the kind of force a maitre d would deploy to show you to your table on Emerson Royal and then his second at Goodison Park on February 3 was originally credited to him but then deemed to have hit team-mate Jack Harrison last en route to goal.
The Sheffield-born player also had to endure an outrageous sending off in an FA Cup third round tie at Crystal Palace. Referee Chris Kavanagh didn’t even think the challenge was a foul in real time but egged on by VAR he showed Calvert-Lewin a straight red only for Everton to appeal and the decision to be overturned.
Given the extensive injury problems that the 27-year-old had endured over the previous two seasons, the Blues were just thankful that he has mostly got himself fit this year and not just ordinary fit but ‘Sean Dyche fit.’ Just being on the pitch for those 23 games was an achievement in itself given that Calvert-Lewin was restricted to just 17 Premier League outings in both of the previous campaigns.
On the eve of the current season, the striker reflected on those injury problems after Everton’s final summer friendly at home to Sporting CP. He said: “All you want to do is to play football and that has been it for me. I have dedicated my whole life to being a football player and I want to be the very best I can be and play at the highest level possible so that has not changed regardless of whether people think my attention is elsewhere.
“My attention has always been on being the best player I can possibly be and doing my best for Everton Football Club.”
Yet before the month was out, Calvert-Lewin’s commitment was again being questioned by some. Making his competitive return to action at Villa Park on August 20, he collided with the hosts’ 13-and-a-half-stone goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez early on.
While he gamely tried to continue, the swelling on Calvert-Lewin’s cheek was so severe, by the 38th minute it was impacting his vision and he was forced to leave the contest. Even then though, it seems some were questioning his commitment to the cause, prompting the player’s father Karlda to claim he had been barracked by some of his own team’s fans and remark: “To see my son hurt like that brought me to tears again.”
Calvert-Lewin has come so far since then though and if there are still any doubters out there, he has proven them wrong.
As we saw from his heroic performance against Liverpool when he overcame both illness and injury to head home Everton’s second goal in front of the Gwladys Street to seal their first Merseyside Derby win at Goodison Park for 13-and-a-half years, he is not someone who bottles playing, he is not someone who won’t play through the pain and he’s not soft or distracted because he likes fashion.
Rather, he is someone who continues to put his body on the line for the Blues and someone who has delivered some of the most significant moments in the final years of Goodison Park. He’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and following in the footsteps of many illustrious predecessors, he’s Everton’s number nine.
