Dominic Calvert-Lewin says the collective input of Everton’s high-calibre coaching staff is helping him improve every day – and the forward expects to return to the Toffees team an “even stronger” player.
Calvert-Lewin, who turns 21 today and is in the Blues' squad for Saturday's encounter with Stoke City, scored his first senior goal for the Club in the 4-0 Goodison Park victory over Hull City on this weekend last year.
He featured in 11 games in 2016/17 but after starring in England Under-20s' summer World Cup triumph has played 40 matches this term – more than any of his teammates – and scored eight goals.
Seventeen of those appearances have come from the bench and following the January acquisition of Turkey international striker Cenk Tosun, Calvert-Lewin has extra competition for a starting spot.
And the England Under-21 international is profiting from the tutelage of experienced coaching trio Duncan Ferguson, Craig Shakespeare and Sammy Lee as he bids to refine his all-round game.
“I do a lot of work after training on finishing and other things with Dunc and Shakey [first-team coach Shakespeare],” Calvert-Lewin told evertontv.
“Any little things you can do every day [help] – it is fine margins which make you a better player.
“Dunc loves the Club and wants to help any of the young players coming through. He always makes time at the end of the sessions to do a bit with me.
“We get a goalkeeper to work on finishing and with the experience Shakey has [that is a further help]. We have quite a few staff who can have an input in not only my development, but all the young players’ development. Every little bit helps.
“Sammy Lee is always having an input and giving you pointers on what you can do better – as are the rest of the coaching staff.
“We work on everything, day in, day out - you cannot script anything. As it comes up, they will pull you aside and if they think you can improve on something they will let you know.”
Calvert-Lewin has used his athletic stature to telling effect this term. The imposing and robust forward, who moved to Everton from then-League One Sheffield United in August 2016, has scored two of his eight goals with his head and won numerous aerial duels.
In the recent meeting with Burnley – one of two matches he has started since the turn of the year – Calvert-Lewin came out on top in 13 aerial battles, a number topped by only two Premier League players that weekend.
Indeed, this weekend's opponents, Stoke, boast the highest average number of aerial duels won per game this season, the figure of 26 only twice that achieved by Calvert-Lewin on his own at Turf Moor.
Former Everton striker and current first-team coach Ferguson was renowned for his formidable prowess in the air. But the towering Scot, who scored 72 goals in 273 appearances across two spells with the Club, was equally adept at using his angular physique to outsmart defenders.
That is an art form Ferguson is passing on to Calvert-Lewin, who says he is also receiving advice on the skill from assistant manager Lee, a former midfielder whose diminutive stature demanded he made clever use of his body.
Asked if he turns to Ferguson for tips on how best to deploy his powerful frame, Calvert-Lewin said: “Yes, definitely. Sammy Lee, too. It was something he had to do in his career. And if he could do it, then I can do it.
“They have been giving me little pointers on how I can use my body a little bit better. But not having played as much recently, it has given me time to get in the gym and carry on getting stronger and get used to my body a little bit.
“I like to think that when I come back and play I will be even stronger.
“Yes [I have big ambitions]. Although I am only turning 21 today it has seemed a long road to get to where I am. I have put in a lot of hard work to get here and I will continue to do so to get to where I want to be.”
Everton go to Stoke's bet365 Stadium seeking to hit upon a method of repeating their excellent home form on foreign territory.
The Blues have chalked up 20 points from 27 available at Goodison since manager Allardyce watched November’s 4-0 thumping of West Ham on the eve of his appointment.
They have found results on the road harder to come by, however, and Calvert-Lewin insists the whole squad are determined to correct the issue against Paul Lambert’s side.
Everton will be buoyed by memories of their opening-day success over Stoke, when Calvert-Lewin delivered a peach of a cross for Wayne Rooney to crown his Toffees homecoming by heading the only goal of a tight contest.
Calvert-Lewin is aiming for a repeat performance, then, and is happy swapping a birthday celebration for a night in a hotel ahead of potentially playing his 41st match of a personally magnificent season.
“Stoke is renowned for being tough, with the conditions and the way they can set up sometimes,” added Calvert-Lewin.
“We know it will be tough but we have beaten them once already, so we will take confidence from that and look forward to the game.
“Away games for us have been frustrating and we have not produced the performances we would have liked.
“It is a big game for us and, mentally, it would give us a big confidence boost to win away.
“It [my birthday] always seems to fall on a day like this. But I have had worse. On my 18th I was away at Millwall with the Under-23s with Sheffield United!
“But this is not too bad – because I am in the Premier League now.”
