Dominic Calvert-Lewin: Sean Dyche talks up striker's England chances after 'outstanding’ display against Liverpool
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Updated 25/04/2024 at 17:26 GMT
Dominic Calvert-Lewin hasn't featured for England since July 2021 but Everton boss Sean Dyche talked up the striker's chance of making Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad after his "outstanding" display in the 2-0 win over Liverpool on Wednesday. Calvert-Lewin, has netted four goals in 11 caps for England, scored a second-half goal as The Toffees inflicted a damaging defeat on their neighbours.
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Sean Dyche has talked up Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s England prospects after the striker’s "outstanding” performance in Everton's memorable 2-0 victory over Liverpool.
Calvert-Lewin was key for The Toffees at Goodison Park, bullying Liverpool’s defence and scoring the decisive second goal in the second half.
Victory saw Everton pick up a vital three points to put some much-needed distance between them and the relegation spots. Everton now sit in 16th, eight points above 18th-placed Luton.
The striker has had his fair share of injury setbacks in recent seasons, consequently falling down the England pecking order. Since debuting against Wales in 2020, Calvert-Lewin has netted four goals in 11 caps for England.
He has not featured for The Three Lions since July 2021, but Dyche believes the striker’s performance against Liverpool highlights his international level quality.
"I said to him after the match, 'That is the sort of performance that gets you back around the England squad'," said Dyche.
"It is too early yet and I am not making any bold statement because Gareth Southgate has a lot of players to choose from, but certainly with that kind of performance he should be recognised as a top centre forward."
Dyche also revealed the striker had been suffering from illness in the hours leading up to the game.
Dyche praised the striker for overcoming the illness to deliver an impressive performance.
"I thought he was excellent,” Dyche said.
“He's had a bit of illness. We're hopeful that has passed, he had it before the game, so I must commend him on that.
“His physical performance was outstanding, He's not quite over it but we hope it settles down a bit.”
The Everton manager was open when admitting the club have had to manage the striker’s load this season due to various injuries and knocks he’s picked up over the campaign and past year.
"We've been doing that all season. The medical staff have been feeding back into the coaches. We took a risk not playing him at Chelsea when he might have been able to. It's risk and reward.
"But it shows it does take time mentally and physically to clear your mind of that and start to play freely again.”
Dyche added that midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye played through an injury in the Merseyside derby also.
"We took a bit of a risk with Gana last night. Had a bit of a tight calf. He came through it and played very well. It's a fine line at times. Especially when we have a thing squad in numbers."
The Senegal midfielder was one of The Toffees' best players against Liverpool, being aggressive in the challenge and running relentlessly to frustrate Liverpool’s attackers.
Looking ahead to Brentford, Vitaliy Mykolenko will be sidelined as he awaits a scan on an ankle injury picked up against Liverpool.
“Mykolenko is unlikely. We’ll see how that settles, he needs a scan but it’s not great early signs. We’ll see how quickly that settles,” Dyche said.
Seamus Coleman is another yet to return to full training, having missed the two previous games with a groin injury. Beto joins him on the sideline due to concussion protocols after a blow to his head in the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend.
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