New manager Sean Dyche has revealed that Everton are sweating on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fitness for the Merseyside Derby while outlining his plan to get the striker scoring again. Calvert-Lewin played the first hour of Saturday’s 1-0 win over Premier League leaders Arsenal before making way for Neal Maupay after James Tarkowski’s goal.
After struggling with his fitness for the past 18 months, the 25-year-old is now set be assessed by the medical staff at Finch Farm early this week. Asked about Calvert-Lewin’s physical condition after previously outlining in his post-match press conference that the player had been suffering with a hamstring issue, Dyche said: “We will have to wait and see. I don't think it is a drastic one but he needs to settle it down so we will probably give it two days before we scan it just as a precaution at this stage.”
Calvert-Lewin, who has netted just once in a dozen appearances so far this season, spurned at least three good opportunities to score against the Gunners but Dyche has already been speaking with the England international about trying to rediscover the kind of form that saw him bag as many as 21 goals in all competitions as recently as the 2020/21 campaign. He said: “We just had a chat with him to see where he is at, see how he is feeling about things.
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“His body is getting stronger. He’s niggled his hamstring which was a risk and reward situation because he's been a bit up and down with that.
“We said just give us a chance to work with you and you will get stronger. We talked about the basic principles, we showed him the goal reels and said ‘look where you are where you have scored goals.’
“We showed him the goal map and said to him ‘look where you are: get between the sticks.’ Sometimes you can strip things out of the game, you can do all the analytics, but sometimes it is just a case of being in the right place, it gives you a better chance to score.
“So sometimes you have to strip all of it back and go right you work hard, work from the front, and when we get the ball you get between the posts, and you drive in there. Don't just stand there, drive in there and I thought he did that (against Arsenal).”
Dyche laughs off the perception that he’s a harsh taskmaster, barking at his players all of the time and explains that he’s already had more intimate chats with members of the Everton squad. He said: “The hardline Sean Dyche is your rule.
“You wouldn’t have to go far to speak to players who I have worked with. I doubt many would say I am hardline, they would say hard professional standards, high demand that doesn’t mean you are tyrant if you have high professional standards and high demands.
“You can still talk to people and absorb what they are saying and get feedback. I asked the team at half-time ‘what do you think?’ because they have taken a lot on this week.
“How can I be sure they have taken anything on, unless I ask them? I said what do you think?
“We went over some things and it felt like we were onto something because they were noticing the things we talked about in the week. How do we correct them?
“Look, I am not bothered, I will live in whatever box you want me to, I have never been bothered by it, you help yourselves. Just write that I am tyrant and I have run them ragged and shouted at them.”
The Blues boss added: “There are a few players I have spoken to, there are a few players horse whispering as I call it. I spoke to Michael Keane before the Arsenal game, a player I think is a terrific player, and said I don’t think you are there yet physically, we will get you there because I believe he is a very, very good player.
“Just little chats, you know come on give us a chance. Some of them it is easier for because they have worked with you before so they trust you a bit quicker, some have natural trust, some are cynical.
“We are all cynical in life, or some of us are, about things. Is he on the level? That takes time and that is about dual respect.
“I am willing to take the time and I am willing to work with them. We just have to fast track it because we have to build that quickly.”
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