Everton have had a torrid season thus far when it comes to injuries, made all the more alarming given we are just eight games into the new Premier League campaign.
And yet, despite all these physical setbacks, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has remained ever-present, ironically so given his previous relationship with injuries.
Between 2021 and 2023, the Englishman was dealt innumerable setbacks, with everything from muscular issues to freak accidents that ruled him out for weeks and even months at a time.
However, when looking back on his eight years with the Toffees, he holds no regrets for that period on the sidelines.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin on his injury history
Speaking to Everton’s official website, Calvert-Lewin was candid when speaking about his tenure at Goodison Park.
After all, whilst largely successful, it has been far from easy for the 27-year-old, who had to contend with years of untold injury horrors that ruled him out of 63 games across back-to-back campaigns.
However, when looking back on that perceived nightmare, he now thinks of it with fondness, inexplicably describing it as a ‘blessing in disguise’.
Calvert-Lewin revealed: ‘My body feels great and it goes to show that in football things move quickly because it feels like that’s well behind me now. Now I’m here and [injury problems] have been pretty much forgotten about, which is good for me. It means I’m in a good place, it means I’m strong, I’m fit and healthy and people can see that.
‘It means everything to be in that place again. There was a period of time where I hoped and prayed to be in this physical condition. That’s how hard it was, just fighting to be back.
‘When I say about having the pressure and expectation – that’s the time when I probably felt it the most because I wanted to help the team, I was itching to get back and that caused me to rush back and the cycle went how it went.
‘Football is everything to me. I am obsessed with football. During [the battle to get back to full fitness], I tried everything and it was a case of trying something and if that didn’t work, then I’d try something else. Not being able to play meant my obsession then became, ‘How can I make sure I’m healing faster?’
‘I think, if anything, now it can prove to be a blessing in disguise for me because it thrust me into learning more about nutrition, general health, yoga, meditation and things that are good for me. I think will set me in good stead for the longevity of my career.
‘Of course, what I went through was very frustrating and I wouldn’t wish that on anybody but I’m a believer of things happening for a reason.’
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is Everton’s best striker
Whilst fitness is not an issue anymore for Calvert-Lewin, form certainly is.
After all, despite having scored twice already this campaign, he has missed far more big chances that are drawing some criticism from onlookers.
The statistics actually state that he has missed seven big chances in the Premier League.
And yet, he remains the club’s best fit striker, purely because of how much better his hold-up and link-up play is. That’s what would make it all the more frustrating should Calvert-Lewin leave on a free this summer as his contract winds down.
Beto, for all his chaotic energy, does not offer much control up front.
It will be interesting to see how Calvert-Lewin fares when Armando Broja, and later Youssef Chermiti come back to challenge his currently immovable spot.
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox
