Frank Lampard has revealed that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is 'in a good place' following a week working with Everton’s coaching staff over the international break.
Calvert-Lewin is still waiting for his first goal of 2022 after missing four months of the current campaign with a quadriceps issue. The forward has scored 29 Premier League goals over the previous two seasons.
The 25-year-old was not named in Gareth Southgate's England squad for the wins over Switzerland and Ivory Coast at the end of last month. Instead, Calvert-Lewin remained at Finch Farm and was put through his paces by Lampard and his staff.
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"The break has been positive for Dominic [Calvert-Lewin]," said Lampard in Friday's pre-match press conference when asked about the forward.
"I haven't had the benefit of having him for many league games - just three starts for us - and he was playing short of fitness. Not short, short, but a striker wants and needs to be 100 percent.
"We've worked well, really closely with him over the past couple of weeks. Without putting unnecessary pressure on him, because it's tough to be a striker with expectation, he's in a really good place.”
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One of Everton’s standout players this season has been Anthony Gordon. The youngster has been a regular since Lampard succeeded Rafa Benitez back in January.
Speaking after his first game in charge of Everton, Lampard told how he believes Gordon has 'got what it takes' to go a long way. And now speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to West Ham United, Lampard described the 21-year-old as a 'dream' to work with.
He said: "Anthony's started every game for me, I enjoy working with him. He's a pleasure to work with for his attitude and quality.
“Players like that with his application improve quickly because they understand what they need to improve on and want to improve on. He's a dream to work with on that level.
“It is an area of the pitch where we do have competition, but Anthony's really stood up and continues to do so. Very excited to be working with him all the time.”
