Everton have endured a season where their profligacy in front of goal has left them wanting in many matches.
Despite dominating, and forging chance after chance, the ball at times just would not go in the net, allowing their opponents to steal undeserved victories.
Sean Dyche urged his players to learn how to win ugly, and since then they have enjoyed a five-game winning streak at Goodison Park, spearheaded by one man’s return to form.
It is a pleasure to watch Dominic Calvert-Lewin find the net with regularity once again, with five goal contributions in his last games much-needed for both him and the club.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin outlines his Everton dream
Speaking to Everton’s official website, the £100k-a-week marksman looked back on a season filled with some lofty highs and crushing lows, and outlined his latest target.
He noted: ‘I reflect on this season in a much better way than I perhaps would have six to eight weeks ago when I was in the back end of a difficult spell. I needed to get a goal and I was plugging away, working hard and then when I got my goal, I knew once I got one that would be it then. That’s how it goes in football being a centre-forward.
‘It’s been a different kind of battle for myself. The previous two seasons were plagued with injuries and were just all about being fit – getting fit, staying fit and getting to play as many games as possible, whereas this season, at the start of the season it was a case of that – just wanting to be out there, playing and almost do myself justice, in a way, because I felt like I hadn’t been able to do that for a long time.
‘I’m sat here now with two games left, four goals in the past five games but still hungry for more goals, to be honest. I’m looking to make it a few more and really get back and continue to show the level I believe I’m capable of playing at week-in, week-out.
‘I want to get back to where I belong in the England team. It’s been a slow build-up this season, I feel like I’ve got there eventually and now I just want to continue this form.’
Dominic Calvert-Lewin faces stiff competition for England
Whilst Calvert-Lewin is different to anything England have really, given his unique speed paired with how well he holds the ball up, he will face very tough competition to pry his way into the squad.
First of all, as England captain, the undroppable Harry Kane is enjoying some of the best form of his life out in Germany, having taken to life with Bayern Munich with ease.
Although he is set to once again go trophyless, he has scored 36 in the Bundesliga, assisting a further eight.
Then, behind him is Ollie Watkins, who too is enjoying one of his best-ever campaigns.
His tally of 19 goals and 13 assists nearly had him in the running for both top scorer and top assister going into the final day of the Premier League campaign, with the latter now far more likely.
So, with Ivan Toney, Dominic Solanke and even Callum Wilson all vying for that third spot, that marks a very condensed pool of players all seeking to take up one place in the squad.