Dominic Calvert-Lewin has opened up on his behind-the-scenes relationship with caretaker Everton manager Duncan Ferguson and the frustration he has felt with his injury absence.
Calvert-Lewin has been back in the side for the last two Premier League matches but couldn't help the Blues to victory against either Brighton or Norwich City.
However, the England international will be hoping for a different outcome when led by Ferguson once more.
The last time the Goodison Park favourite was in charge, Calvert-Lewin began a remarkable streak of form that would later continue under Carlo Ancelotti by bagging two goals in a 3-1 home win over Chelsea in December 2019.
And the 24-year-old has discussed what Ferguson is really like away from the cameras.
Calvert-Lewin wrote on evertonfc.com : "Everyone knows about my personal relationship with Dunc. Regardless of who the manager is, it’s always special for me when Dunc is on the sidelines, because I want to repay everything that he’s done for me.
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"On his first training day with us this week, he made it evident that we’re here to win and work hard for each other.
"It’s about creating that team spirit, which he does very well. He creates a working and winning atmosphere, and he makes us all look forward to the game and believing we can get the three points. He wants us to enjoy training and playing football and, when you do that, the hard work becomes a lot easier.
"I think people get Dunc wrong sometimes and think he’s this big, scary guy. Of course, he’s got that in him – he’s 6ft 4in! – and if you don’t play well, you know you’ll get a good telling off. I think that’s healthy.
"But the way he speaks to the lads and his approach to coaching, he’s very calm, cool and collected. He’s got both sides to him, and I think that’s important.
"He’s been here and worked under many different managers. He has built up a lot of experience and I’m sure he’s taken all that information in, and he can mould that into the way he wants to play and implement his tactics."
Calvert-Lewin is still searching for full match fitness after missing over four months of the season with injury.
He admits that he was frustrated during his time out of the team but he is confident that the goals will come once more.
"On a personal level, it’s been a massively frustrating season for me so far," he added. "Being a footballer, it was the hardest thing to have to watch from the sidelines because my body was letting me down. I was out for a long time.
"The Premier League is a difficult place to play and, being out for the length of time I was, you have got to get match fitness and match sharpness. I’ve just been working as hard as I can to get there – and you only really get that with games.
"For me, it’s a case of playing matches and I believe the goals will come."
Everton take on Aston Villa at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon in what will be the first match of Ferguson's second temporary spell in charge, following Rafa Benitez's sacking.
Calvert-Lewin explained that the time for talking is over, and it's time for the players to repay the faith of supporters in what he expects to be an electric atmosphere in the famous stadium.
He remarked: "The atmosphere has been good in training, and it’s a case of believing what we’re capable of. This is the time you have to look in the mirror, dig deep, and produce on matchday.
"But it’s easy to talk. At the end of the day, the fans pay money to come and watch good performances from us. We fully appreciate the feelings of the Evertonians, and we want to go and put that right on Saturday.
"When Dunc got the job the first time, our backs were against the wall when we were playing Chelsea. We needed a result, and we got it.
"I’ve got no doubt Goodison is going to be rocking and the fans will be our 12th man on Saturday. I can’t wait to play and I’m looking forward to the atmosphere. For sure, it will give the lads a lift.
"We’re confident and we believe we can win. Now it’s about showing that on the pitch."
