Darren Bent says he can’t make his mind up about £100k-a-week Everton player

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Everton are a polarising team in terms of form, finances and the general feeling they inspire from rival fans.

After all, for every team that despises the Toffees, there is another set of fans who delight in coming up to Evertonians and informing them that they are their second team.

Naturally, this means nothing, but it perfectly exhibits the fickle and ever-changing nature of football and specifically the type of fan it moulds.

This kind of drastic and far-reaching opinion almost always extends to the players, with those expected to star on the pitch guaranteed to command the most scrutiny should they fail to do their jobs properly.

The media and supporters love to make their acrimonious feelings known, and for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, that kind of rapid reversal is something he knows better than most. 

Darren Bent gives his verdict on Dominic Calvert-Lewin

The Englishman joined the Toffees as a teenager with a bright future, but few would have expected him to become such a key cog in Everton’s side.

Growing into a fine physical specimen, standing at 6 foot 3 but boasting impressive speed, his hold-up play has been a staple of every team the club has put out for many years now.

Scoring for fun under Carlo Ancelotti, but losing all his form and fitness ever since, Darren Bent is the latest to comment on this steady and unfortunate regression.

He told talkSPORT just yesterday ( 13/08, 5:44 pm): ‘I am torn on Dominic Calvert-Lewin because on the one hand, when you look at his numbers you go, no. On his day, when he is fit and firing, he is unplayable. 

‘He is big, he is strong. He is good in the air. When he is at it, no one is outjumping him. He is one of the best in the air. Unfortunately, he can’t stay fit. Whatever that is, you can’t rely on him.’

How reliable is Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Everton?

Regarding reliability, Calvert-Lewin remains one of the most polarising figures.

After all, for him specifically, this can only possibly relate to his fitness and his performances in front of goal.

Starting with the former, it’s hard to make a strong case for the 27-year-old for the past two years, although he does seem to be over the worst of it now.

During the 2021/22 season, he started just 15 Premier League matches, yet did crop up with that crucial winner against Crystal Palace to secure safety.

Starting another 15 games the following campaign, just two goals all term outlined a disappointing return.

Fortunately, the £100k-a-week forward managed to increase that appearance number to a far more respectable 26 starts, although his seven goals were far from the 13 and 16-goal hauls he commanded from 2019 to 2021.

With his fitness on the rise, this season has to be a solid one in front of goal to beat any allegations regarding his unreliability as a finisher.

But, with rumours suggesting that Dominic Calvert-Lewin could leave Everton this summer, he would leave poor availability and struggles to score as his freshest memory for fans, thus tarnishing his legacy before he can earn redemption.