Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin has now shared what Sean Dyche said to him last season amidst a testing period for the 26-year-old.
Indeed, the £1.5m forward has revealed that the Everton manager was an enormous help in taking the pressure off his shoulders, telling him ‘you are not coming back until you are fit-fit’.
The England international has been burdened with injury for two seasons now and is a doubt for Saturday’s Premier League opener against Fulham.
Having played just 36 games in all competitions over the last two seasons, there has been a tendency to rush the striker back early from injury due to a lack of options, often resulting in a longer-term absence.
DCL now says that both he and Dyche are looking to break that cycle ahead of the new Premier League season.
Speaking with the Liverpool Echo, Calvert-Lewin said: “Firstly, the gaffer has been great with me since he came in; his patience and he has kind deflected all the attention that has always been put on me over the last two years.
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A lot of the time I take responsibility myself because I have been so eager to be back, and it has been a vicious cycle of rushing back, the expectation on me to be back, and not being allowed that time previously to be 100 percent fit, so the manager has come in and kind of said, ‘Listen, you are not coming back until you are fit-fit.’”
If Dyche can indeed break the cycle, Calvert-Lewin will feel like a new signing
The Everton striker was back amongst the goals during last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Sporting CP but has only played a total of 90 minutes all pre-season.
When fit, there is no doubt that DCL is a top class striker, and if Sean Dyche can indeed break the cycle of recurring injuries, Everton have a superb target man.
However, the need for reinforcements upfront remains evident, and Dyche must add to the loan signing of forward Arnaut Danjuma this summer.