Everton manager Sean Dyche has backed Dominic Calvert-Lewin to recover his goalscoring form ahead of Saturday’s encounter against Bournemouth at Goodison Park.
The England international who was overlooked for Gareth Southgate’s recently announced 26-man squad has struggled with injury problems this season.
He was ruled out of Everton’s season curtain-raiser against Fulham with a hamstring problem but was handed a 38-minute cameo in the subsequent 4-0 mauling at Aston Villa.
Calvert-Lewin also missed games against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield United with a fractured cheekbone but returned in the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.
For the first time this season, Calvert-Lewin lasted the entire 90 minutes in the 2-1 defeat to Luton Town last weekend.
Despite the striker’s injury woes, he has returned a respectable three goals in five appearances across all competitions this term, boosting Everton’s goalscoring prospects in the final third.
“He’s getting there, to true total fitness,” Dyche said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s home game against Bournemouth.
“The closest and best I’ve seen him was arguably at Brighton last season, in terms of his all-round game.
“It was excellent. He is showing signs of that recently – scoring goals is obviously a good habit.
“I think he is getting to the endpoint in terms of being totally fit, clear of mind, clear of body and doing what he does best, which is creating and scoring goals. He is showing really strong signs of that.”
Calvert-Lewin has scored in each of his last three outings across all competitions and will be hoping to continue his impressive form when the Cherries visit Merseyside.
After picking up four points from their opening seven games, the Toffees sit just two places above the relegation zone, boasting a better goal difference than 18th-placed Burnley.
Last weekend’s defeat to Premier League newcomers Town was a major disappointment for Dyche’s side, and they will be keen to return to winning ways at the weekend.
