Everton fans are heading into the international break a lot happier than they were before the previous one, still eagerly awaiting their first win of the campaign.
The Toffees returned to action with an underwhelming defeat to Arsenal, however they have since won three out of four matches in all competitions.
Sean Dyche’s side now sit in 16th place in the Premier League table and are three points above the relegation zone – a huge improvement from an extremely poor start to the season.
Things are certainly far from perfect at Goodison Park and fans still have a right to be wary, however there are definitely a few positives that leave the club in a much better position than only a matter of weeks ago.
Here are five reasons for Everton to be positive right now.
Jarrad Branthwaite is going nowhere
Everton’s fall from grace in recent years has made Goodison Park a rather unattractive club to join, nevermind committing your future to.
However, Jarrad Branthwaite has surprised many as he has made it clear that he is dedicated to the Toffees and wants to stick around for a while.
Given the increasing interest in the defender, it is a huge boost for Everton to tie him down to a new deal. The 21-year-old has been the rose among a number of thorns in recent months and his sure future is a breath of fresh air for the club.
If Branthwaite can keep up his commitment to the Merseyside outfit then Everton will have a huge star on their hands – one that could become a key part of their future.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is back
Everton have been eagerly awaiting a competent goalscorer since Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s dramatic decline, however his return could be even better than that.
The 26-year-old became one of the Premier League’s best strikers during his brilliant two-year spell that saw him net 29 goals, but a series of injuries has had a negative impact on the club and his form.
However, Calvert-Lewin returned to full fitness following his fractured cheekbone and has shown glimpses of the forward that attracted interest from Arsenal and Real Madrid.
The forward has bagged three goals in his last four games and has played an important role in Everton’s upturn in form.
If DCL can keep it up then it would be very surprising to see the Toffees remain in a relegation battle this season.
Plenty of attacking options
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s return, as well as a number of summer signings, have improved Everton’s attacking options dramatically.
The Toffees were previously forced to play Neal Maupay up top, as well as James Garner and Alex Iwobi out wide, and it was very clear that they would struggle to to create anything in attack.
However, things look a lot better now. While Beto is still waiting for his first goal, he can add fierce competition for Calvert-Lewin and could well be the reason for the England international’s form.
Meanwhile, Jack Harrison has already had a positive impact on the squad following his injury and has the likes of Arnaut Danjuma and Dwight McNeil alongside him. Meanwhile, Abdoulaye Doucoure has become one of Everton’s biggest attacking threats.
An exciting future
Everton have previously relied on experienced players such as Seamus Coleman, Jordan Pickford and Abdoulaye Doucoure.
While they are still very important to the team, the Toffees are now able to look to the future with a number of young players stepping up.
The likes of James Garner, Amadou Onana and Jarrad Branthwaite have all become pivotal figures in Everton’s recent performances, while fans will be eager to see other young stars such as Nathan Patterson and Lewis Dobbin reach their potential.
While the Toffees are lacking the finances to reach the levels of many clubs around them, it is also a slight relief for them to able to turn to their young prospects.
There are worse teams than Everton
Everton’s position in the Premier League has been massively questioned and many have expected the club to finally drop down to the second tier this time round.
However, after a couple of months and a turnaround in the Toffees’ form, it seems clear to me that there are worse teams than Sean Dyche’s side.
Despite defeat to Luton Town, all three promoted clubs currently look at more of a threat to immediately be relegated back to the Championship. Everton have much higher quality players and also a lot of experience in their team that can help them solidify their position in the league.
Everton’s chances of staying up also look higher than the likes of Bournemouth and Wolves, who could well be in a similar position to Dyche’s side at the end of the campaign. It will all depend on who wants it more.
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