Dominic Calvert-Lewin is determined to “carry on where I left off” when Premier League football resumes.

Calvert-Lewin was in a rich run of scoring form – and broadly expected to receive a first senior England call – before action was suspended as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 23-year-old admits Carlo Ancelotti is already prodding his competitive streak in a bid generate a consistently prolific return from the striker.

Calvert-Lewin has scored 13 times in 27 Premier League appearances – 22 starts – this term.

In the 11 league matches since Ancelotti was appointed boss, Calvert-Lewin has hit eight goals – including the winner in the Italian manager’s first game, against Burnley on Boxing Day.

“He pulled me aside [soon after taking charge] and the first ‘criticism’ was, ‘You need to stay central’,” said Calvert-Lewin.

“It was like music to my ears because all my career I have been told to run channels.

“There are different ways of being a focal point and I knew what he meant straight away.

“My role within the team is to hit the back of the net and make sure I am in position to score goals. I’m not going to score if I’m out near the corner flag.

“It just tweaked something in my head to be a bit more selfish in terms of my positioning and be a bit more patient.

“I remember I had scored in a game and he came up to me and said, ‘All my strikers have always scored goals. You need to score more’.

“It is the way he says it. He dropped that little bomb and walked off. He is always keeping you on your toes and that’s what I like.

“He is used to working with world stars, so I still have a long way to go.

“If he says I need to score more, that is what I need to do.”

Calvert-Lewin credits his emergence as one of this country’s foremost centre-forwards this season to confidant Duncan Ferguson, whose caretaker period in charge injected fresh confidence into the player.

Ferguson was rewarded with a terrific two-goal display when he gave Calvert-Lewin “free rein” as the leader of Everton’s attack in his first game in temporary charge, a 3-1 win over Chelsea in December.

The following week Calvert-Lewin frightened the life out of Manchester United’s backline with a display at Old Trafford in the image of Ferguson in his combative playing pomp.

Calvert-Lewin maintained his momentum following the turn of the year and was widely tipped to be included in an England squad for friendlies against Italy and Denmark in March.

Those matches and this summer’s European Championship fell victim to coronavirus, however, placing Calvert-Lewin’s Three Lions ambitions on ice.

“It kind of felt like the stars were aligning a little bit and the opportunity [to play for England] might be there for the taking,” said Calvert-Lewin.

“I was well aware of what was around the corner and like any young kid, young footballer, you dream of playing for your country. That is my next step.

“But circumstances have changed, therefore your goalposts change.

“In terms of England, I have to refocus and continue what I am doing for Everton. The rest takes care of itself.

“I took the early stages of lockdown to reflect a little bit because I knew we weren’t going to be back too quickly.

“I can pat myself on the back and say congratulations, but the fact of the matter is the first game back, I have to be ready to go again.

"Everything is short-lived in football. If I don’t carry on where I left off, it can easily be forgotten.”

Ferguson, assistant to Ancelotti since the former Real Madrid manager’s arrival, was by Calvert-Lewin’s side in March when the Yorkshireman signed a fresh five-year deal keeping him at Everton until at least June 2025.

“As soon as Duncan got the job, he kind of gave me a free rein, really,” continued Calvert-Lewin.

“He said, ‘You are going to be my man up top, you are going to play’… It gave me that instant uplift: ‘This is my time now. I need to come to the fore not only for myself, and the Club, but also to thank Duncan for the faith he put in me’.

“Every time there were conversations about, ‘He’s not scoring enough goals’ or this or that, I always believed the time would come when people asked me, ‘What has changed?’

“I would say that the catalyst was that Chelsea match. I lived up to expectations on that day.”

In common with his Everton teammates, Calvert-Lewin has actively supported the Club’s Blue Family campaign.

The initiative was launched in tandem with Everton in the Community to maintain and extend the reach of the Club and its charity and support and assist some of the most vulnerable, at-risk and socially-isolated members of the community during the coronavirus crisis.

Calvert-Lewin has personally contacted a number of Evertonians, including young fan Emilia, who has cerebral palsy and developed a close connection with her favourite player after the pair met last August.

“I’d met Emilia already so it was an easy conversation,” said Calvert-Lewin.

“She is a very upbeat girl and it was nice to catch up with her.

“I caught up with a couple of other Everton fans and had a really nice conversation with one who travels from down south to every home game and goes to all the away matches.

“He is working for the NHS and very much involved with what has been going on. I could hear in his voice he was happy to receive the call and I was equally happy to make it.

“The services being provided by Everton In the Community are incredible. It is a magnificent organisation.”