In a recent interview, Everton manager Frank Lampard called for the fans to be patient with Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the striker continues with his bad run of form. Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a very bright start to the current campaign. But a muscle problem saw the England striker miss four months due to the same injury setback.
With this star striker missing, Everton enjoyed a very sub-par season. Rafael Benítez was sacked after the club’s poor start to the season. Even after the appointment of Frank Lampard wins are harder to come by. The toffees lost their last game 2-0 to Southampton. They have picked up just 22 points from 23 Premier League games so far. The club currently sits just four points out of the relegation zone.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has made just eight appearances in the Premier League this term. In this time he has recorded three goals. (stats via Transfermarkt) The striker has really struggled to find the back of the net ever since returning from the long-term injury.
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What Frank Lampard said about Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s poor run of from in front of goal?
Talking to Liverpool ECHO about Everton’s current situation and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s poor run of form, he said:
“A striker at the top end of the pitch is always at the edge in sharpness, and we can’t expect all of that.”
“I thought he was really good last week against Leeds. Again, today I think you would have a case to say that after the first 20 minutes and early in the second half, he didn’t get enough service.
We didn’t play through the lines well enough. We can’t use Dominic as a battering ram, he has too much quality for that and I don’t want to use him that way.
“It’s two-fold – make sure we give him time and give him service to play around him as much as we can.
“It wasn’t a game to judge Dominic on goal input today. We know that when he gets fit, we get better.
“He will be a big threat for us.”
Talking about his injury setback to Everton’s official website, Dominic Calvert-Lewin said:
“To re-injure the same leg three times, it was soul-destroying at points, and it takes you to the depths of a mental battle.
“It’s difficult seeing the boys play and you feel so far away. I’d feel close to coming back and then I was sidelined again.
“You have to dig deep and show courage and character. I feel I’m now a stronger person and a stronger player and off the back of that I’ll return to a top level.
“I’ve been training consistently for a couple of weeks. Now, I feel physically a lot better and much more confident in my body.
“I hold high standards for myself and when you’re not quite at that level that you expect, it can become frustrating.
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