Dominic Calvert-Lewin has spoken of his relief at netting his first goal of the season and praised the way Frank Lampard managed his return to action.
Calvert-Lewin set the Blues on their way to a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon. The goal arrived after just 11 minutes.
After starting the move himself by winning possession from Palace’s Luka Milivojevic, Calvert-Lewin then collected Alex Iwobi’s pass and after a beautiful turn inside the box fired the ball past Vicente Guaita and into the Gwladys Street net.
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“That is what I have been working towards and what I have been waiting for and it is moments like that which keep you going when you cannot play and you just have to keep remembering how that feels and chasing that end product,” the forward said on the goal.
“Having a lot of patience, keep believing, keep working and I have reaped the rewards today.”
Much has been made about the way Blues boss Lampard has managed Calvert-Lewin’s return to action over the past month. After initially looking as though he would return against West Ham, Lampard made the call to leave the forward out.
Calvert-Lewin then missed his side’s next match away to Southampton before eventually coming off the bench against Manchester United at the start of this month. The forward then made his first start of the season against Newcastle United on Wednesday night.
“I think the manager has been great with me,” Calvert-Lewin responded when asked about how his boss has managed his return.
“I think there has been issue of me maybe coming back too quickly and that is more on my part, eager to get back on the pitch and give my all.
“This time around it has been a little bit more careful and you can see it has worked. I played 70 minutes the other day and got 75 minutes now and scored the goal so it has gone well.”
Before he added: "Today is the best I have felt in a long time and I think you can see that in the way that I played and the way that I started the game.
"It is no secret that a big asset of mine is my physicality and getting after players and I think I won the ball back for the goal and that is what I do best. That is something that is in my game and a level I want to get back."
Calvert-Lewin’s last goal for the Blues, prior to his one on Saturday, came when his side came from behind to preserve their top-flight status. The striker’s brave and aggressive header helped Everton overtrun a 2-0 deficit to pick up all three points with a 3-2 win over Patrick Vieira’s side.
And reflecting on the header that left Goodison Park rocking, Calvert-Lewin admitted it is one of the most 'surreal' and 'emotional' moments he has had in football - and revealed he was only watching replays of the goal hours before his side’s game against the Eagles.
“That was a surreal moment and one of the most emotional moments I have had in football. Funnily enough I actually watched it before the game today,” he said.
“I thought you know what, let me have a look at that and it gives me goosebumps every time. I don't always do that but today for whatever reason I chose to do that and you could say that it benefited me.”
But while Calvert-Lewin acknowledges that it is a moment that will always be remembered by Blues supporters, and one that will go down in Goodison folklore, he admits he is determined to return to the levels he has previously shown.
He said: “Yes but I also appreciate that people in football have short term memories and we are here now in a new season where I have to go again, I have to score goals and I have to get back to the level where everyone expects me to be. I think I showed that today and that is the most important thing for me.”
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