BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks has lauded Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a player that can make things happen, after the striker scored a brace at home to Chelsea in our 3-1 win on Saturday.
It was the first time that Calvert-Lewin had struck the back of the net twice in a Premier League game, in what was the 22-year-old’s 92nd top-flight appearance since joining us from boyhood club Sheffield United in 2016.
Scoring frequently, let alone more than once in the same game, has frequently been an issue for the former England U21 international, who has never converted chances in successive league appearances for the Toffees.
But Calvert-Lewin made his presence count at the weekend, and helped kick off the interim Duncan Ferguson era with a huge victory that moved the club out of the relegation places and snapped a three-game losing streak.
Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Crooks is still not convinced by the £20,000-per-week centre-forward being a ‘natural finisher’, but was impressed by his display at the weekend regardless.
“The lad is not what I would call a natural finisher, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin definitely makes things happen,” Crooks noted in his weekly column for BBC Sport.
“Everton have had five permanent managers in six years, which tells you all you need to know about where they are as a club at the moment. I saw more passion, desire and endeavour against Chelsea than I’ve seen in the past six years. It was like Goodison Park back in the ’80s.
“If that is the Duncan Ferguson effect, then give him the job at least until the end of the season. You will know then whether he’s up to it. Calvert-Lewin certainly is.”
How would you describe DCL's performance vs Chelsea?
Man of the Match
Key to the result
Room for improvement
Absolutely awful
Calvert-Lewin has often been criticised by the Goodison faithful for his talents, with fans labelling the £18million-rated hitman a “Championship player” and someone who lacks quality when on the ball.
The Sheffield-born striker registered 51 touches on Saturday as we beat Chelsea, with which he fashioned four shots on target from six attempts, completed 16 of 26 passes – playing one key ball – and was successful with his only attempted dribble, per WhoScored data.
He also won 11 of 24 aerial duels and was never dispossessed by a Chelsea player, the ninth time this season that an opposing team has failed to take possession from him.
Calvert-Lewin did turn over the ball four times through unsuccessful touches, however, one fewer than his season-high five recorded away to Aston Villa in August.
In other Everton news, the club are plotting a deal for a 28-cap international.