Everton have acquired a “unique talent” in Andros Townsend – and the two-footed English forward can play a crucial role for manager Rafa Benitez.

That is the view of Ray Lewington, who was England assistant manager for 11 of Townsend’s 13 national team appearances and worked with the player for four years at Crystal Palace.

The “raw and enthusiastic” attacker first summoned by England eight years ago, says Lewington, has evolved into one of the Premier League’s more astute and multi-dimensional performers.

And the message to Everton’s forwards is to prepare for a diet of “consistent, high-quality service”, with the skilful Townsend able to land the ball in the most ungenerous of target areas off either boot.

Townsend completed a transfer from Palace last month and duly announced his intention to be an “important player” for the Club.

“He is capable of that, definitely, I think he has a unique talent,” Lewington told evertonfc.com.

“He has the ability and energy and still has real pace and lots to offer.

“I think people will be pleasantly surprised. 

“Wide players today are encouraged to come inside.

“That side of his game, when he comes into pockets and plays in tight areas, has improved no end.

“Previously, he wasn’t so comfortable coming inside, into a congested midfield, and trying to manipulate the ball out of there – he liked big spaces where he could push it and run – but now he is very good at it.

“And he is genuinely two-footed. There are very few of those players in the game.

“It is a great asset and gives defenders nothing.

“He still has that raw ability to get the ball out of his feet and run full-backs on the outside and use the space in behind.

“But he can go into the tight areas and keep the ball, pass it and get it back – and link-up play.

“And he puts in brilliant crosses, which is the strongest part of his game.

“He has that turn of foot which allows him to get a yard on players.

“If he is playing on the right, he can go on the outside and hang-up crosses, or come in on his left foot and whip in those balls that need the slightest glance and they are in the net.

“I am sure Dominic Calvert-Lewin will enjoy getting on the end of his deliveries.”

Townsend is a natural left footer but resolved to improve his right until observers couldn’t determine which was the supposedly weaker side.

That level of application, says Lewington, was characteristic of a “model professional”.

And it ultimately fed into Townsend’s name being included in any conversation about English football’s finest crossers of the ball.

He provided the most accurate service of any Premier League player with more than 25 crosses last season, a fact which heightens anticipation over Townsend’s link with Everton striker Calvert-Lewin, whose seven headed goals last term was a top-flight high.

“To be honest, we should have scored far more goals from Andros’ service,” said Lewington, formerly a player with Chelsea and manager at Brentford and Watford.

“Everton’s players up front are real quality and will appreciate it.

“We were a little bit wasteful with his supply.

“Andros is a really good technician and will provide consistent quality with his crossing, there is no doubt about that.

“It is very hard to stop a two-footed player.

“I think everyone at Everton will love him.

“The staff will enjoy coaching him because he is at it every day.

“He always stays out after training and has really worked hard on his dead-ball striking and play in tight areas.

“No one will have to tell him to stay out improving elements of his game.

“You are going to get a model professional.”

Townsend, who began his career with Tottenham Hotspur, is aiming for a more regular goals return after ending a five-year stay at Palace.

His highest scoring Premier League season came in 2018/19 when he hit six.

That tally included a technically-exquisite 30-yard volley at Manchester City which won the Premier League’s Goal of the Season and was one of 10 nominees for FIFA’s Puskas Award, which recognises the “most beautiful” goal of the year.

There was a strike in the same season at Liverpool, too, and that one sticks in Lewington’s mind because of the simplicity of its execution.

“Andros has the ability to score more, we were always encouraging him to get in the box, a lot closer to goal, and score the types of goals you see from Raheem Sterling, the little tap-ins and close-range finishes,” said Lewington.

“Sterling changed his game and gets in the box a lot more

“All you are doing is coming from round the back, or through the middle, and slotting it in from eight yards.

“When Andros does get in, he scores goals. The one at Anfield was a cross from the left and he got to the near post and side-footed in.

“He has to do more of that.

“At the moment, he scores spectacular goals – like the one at Manchester City, which was a great, technical goal. A beautiful volley.

“I think, because he has that power in both feet, he chooses to stay outside the box and is looking for one from distance, or to cut inside for one of those 25-30 yarders.

“There is nothing wrong with that at times.

“But he is capable of scoring a lot more bread-and-butter goals from inside the penalty box.

“He just has to get there more often

“He knows straight away after a match when you tell him, ‘That is your space, you should be getting in there’.

“It’s not previously been a feature of his game but if you keep prompting him, he will do it.”

Lewington was named England assistant following Roy Hodgson’s appointment as manager in 2012 and filled the position for four years.

The pair initially called-up Townsend for World Cup qualifiers in September 2013. He didn’t play in matches against Moldova and Ukraine but the following month made a goalscoring debut in a qualifying victory over Montenegro.

“He was pretty raw when we first capped him,” said Lewington.

“It was his running and pace and directness [that led to Townsend’s inclusion].

 
“He just got the ball and attacked people – and wanted to use the space behind defenders.

“He had masses of enthusiasm and did lots of running.

“When the opposition had the ball, he would run like mad after people, dive in and think he’d be doing things for the team, but he actually wasn’t doing anything.

“He saw the ball and went for it, it was pure enthusiasm.

“Now, he is much more tactically aware without the ball, he fills in gaps, doesn’t dive in and stays on his feet.

“His tactical sense when the opposition have the ball is outstanding.

“He does a really good job defensively, without being a defensive player.

“You don’t get much training time with England, so trying to change any player is impossible.

“You have to allow them to do what they do, that is why you brought them in.

“He did very well for us [England] and scored goals.

“When we got to Palace, he had started to change his game.

“Then, in the next four years, he changed dramatically, he became far more mature as a player and as a lad – and started to refine his game.

“He now has a lot of variety and is a much more rounded footballer.”

Lewington and Hodgson joined Palace in September 2017 and stayed until the end of 2020/21.

Townsend was a virtual ever present throughout that period, growing into a senior figure for a team that comfortably kept its head above water in the Premier League.

“Andros has an opinion,” continued Lewington.

“Some people have an opinion but it’s not worth listening to, because they are just protecting themselves.

“When Andros says anything, the coaching staff listen and other players listen, he has that standing in the dressing room.

“People respect him.

“Previously, he would just concentrate on his own game… when you are a young boy, you are only concerned with what you do.

“Now, he is much more of a team player.

“He doesn’t say things for the sake of it, or to make himself look better – he says things he thinks will be better for the team.

“You need to be mature and understand the game to be able to voice an opinion.

“He has the confidence and knowledge to do it and it is an opinion worth listening to.

“He is honest and not there to promote himself, everything is for the team.

“I think he is going to be a very good asset for Everton and the Club will really enjoy having him."