Dominic Calvert-Lewin says he wants to deliver the goals and performances which would repay the “massive faith” invested in him by Everton.

Striker Calvert-Lewin has claimed the Club's prized number 9 jersey this term, a move he views as the latest step on his transition into one of Everton’s more established players.

The 22-year-old has started his side’s opening two Premier League games. His run of 10 successive starts late last season was only halted by a minor injury which kept him out of the final-day meeting with Tottenham Hotspur.

Especially pertinent about Calvert-Lewin’s extended period leading the line was that it coincided with Everton’s most productive period of the campaign – those 10 games yielding six victories, two draws and 16 goals.

It was a measure of the player’s confidence when he returned for pre-season that he broached the topic of wearing nine on his back with manager Marco Silva.

“It hadn't been on my mind but I knew the shirt could be coming available so, naturally – I played 10 games on the bounce at the back end of last season – I asked the question, we had a little conversation and the manager said: 'If you want it, you can have it',” said Calvert-Lewin.

“So I took it.

“Coming into the team as a young player, you have to go through that transition to being viewed as an established player.

“I've played a lot of games for Everton and I genuinely thought there was no harm in me taking the number 9.”

Calvert-Lewin is five appearances short of reaching his century for the Club.

The Yorkshireman has made strides year-on-year since joining from Sheffield United in August 2016 – something borne out by numbers which show Calvert-Lewin’s Premier League goals and games have risen in each of his three Goodison Park campaigns.

Director of Football Marcel Brands revealed in the summer how Everton would not block the player’s progress with a raft of central striking recruits.

Calvert-Lewin noted Brands’s declaration – and reckons he is coming on every day under Silva’s coaching.

“The Club have put massive belief in me and it [Brands's comment] was a massive confidence boost,” said Calvert-Lewin.

“The way I take that is, I want to prove them right and repay them with good performances and goals.

“That's another reason I work hard every day… it's a massive amount of trust they have put in me and I want to repay it.

“I feel like every week I am learning more things. If the gaffer sees something to add into my game, he will start drilling it into me.

“Positionally, he's helped me quite a lot, especially out of possession and now, more so, in possession. Where to be and when.

“He is adding bits to my game all over and helping me improve every day.

“He wants me consistently performing well and doing the things I was last season: holding the ball up, stretching teams and playing my natural game.

“I'm sure he wants me to add more goals to my game, as I do, and he's picked certain details out to help me do that."

Calvert-Lewin operated as Everton’s attacking focal point in this term’s first two games, against Crystal Palace and Watford, before making way for summer buy Moise Kean after 69 and 72 minutes respectively.

“My natural style suits the way we play, because you have to be quite mobile leading the line on your own,” said Calvert-Lewin.

“It can be a tough shift but it's something I enjoy.

“It is frustrating at times when you put the work in and don't reap the rewards [in terms of goals] but the main thing is we did come away with three points [against Watford].

“I believe there is more to come from me… I'm getting fitter and stronger.

“You're not always going to score, are you? For me, as long as we win the games and I can start adding goals, then that's the main goal.”

On competition for his starting spot intensifying following the arrival of teenage Italy international striker Kean, Calvert-Lewin added: “I've got to keep doing what I have been and playing my own game.

“Keep doing well in training and continue fitting into the system.

"There's always going to be competition in the Premier League. I was fully expecting the Club to bring in players, in my position or elsewhere. You can't be naive and think they might not bring in anyone.

“Moise is a good lad, I get on really well with him and it will be good competition this season.”