BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks has tipped Carlo Ancelotti to make a fierce attacking partnership from Moise Kean and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, after fielding the pair together as Everton beat Newcastle United on Saturday.
Ancelotti is yet to settle on his favoured eleven since taking charge on December 21, with Calvert-Lewin joined upfront by Richarlison against Burnley on Boxing Day before the boss turned to Kean at Newcastle.
Both games have seen the club flourish in attack with 21 shots at home to the Clarets and then 22 at St. James’ Park, although only five and nine were struck on target respectively.
Only three of the 14 on-target efforts have been turned home, as well, and each have come from Calvert-Lewin, whom Crooks feels is playing like a reborn man since the sacking of Marco Silva.
“The Everton forward couldn’t hit a barn door six-months ago and now he can’t stop scoring,” Crooks noted in his column for BBC Sport. “To be fair to Calvert-Lewin, it took fired-up caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson to really inspire this kid.
“Since Ferguson occupied the hot seat, the young striker has not looked back. Five goals in five league games tell its own story.
“Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival can only be good for Everton and Calvert-Lewin. He’s put Burnley and Newcastle to the sword in a matter of days. I also think it was an inspired decision by Ancelotti to play Moise Kean alongside Calvert-Lewin. This could develop into quite a partnership.”
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Calvert-Lewin had scored three goals in the Premier League before Ferguson was given the caretaker position, and had, at most, only attempted three shots a game with Silva in the dugout, per WhoScored data.
The confidence Ferguson brought to the squad could instantly be seen in Calvert-Lewin against Chelsea, as the 22-year-old hit a brace from six shots and won 11 aerial duels – the most for a single fixture of his top-flight season thus far.
A return to three shots against Manchester United and one against Arsenal saw Calvert-Lewin fail to score, but the former England U21 international hit the back of net with one in six strikes against Burnley and two from four at Newcastle, showing the confidence he has to try his luck.
Kean was not afraid to go in search of his first goal for the club at St. James’ Park, either, with the £27.5million summer signing from Juventus taking a joint-game high five shots with three on target, but each saved by Martin Dubravka.
In other Everton news, a £55k-p/w man is expected to leave Goodison Park in January.