Rafa Benitez is “convinced” Dominic Calvert-Lewin can elevate his all-round displays to fresh heights this season and continue delivering regular match-winning contributions for Everton.

Calvert-Lewin has returned to training after a thigh strain forced him to withdraw from the England squad for their recent World Cup qualifiers.

The striker has been instrumental in Everton’s impressive start to the Premier League season, scoring in each of the Blues’ opening three games.

Benitez explained how Calvert-Lewin's performances have been all the more impressive given a toe problem hindered his preparation for those matches – and the Spaniard believes the 24-year-old will significantly improve as he gains optimum fitness.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Monday's clash with Burnley at Goodison Park, Benitez said: “Dominic is doing well but he is a player that you are still expecting more from.

“Why? Because he wasn’t fully fit, he was making an effort to be on the pitch, he’s been training with pain.

“I’m really happy to see him trying in the training sessions even when he’s not fully fit.

“That is the reason why I’m expecting even more.

“I know we can talk about strikers and goals, but I think he has contributed to the team in terms of effort, assists and goals.

“It can be really good [for Calvert-Lewin] this year and I can see he is happy, so I’m convinced he will do it.”

Benitez bolstered his attacking ranks with the signing of Salomon Rondon from Chinese side Dalian Professional on transfer deadline day.

Rondon has flourished under the Everton boss at Dalian and Newcastle United - and Benitez outlined what the 31-year-old will offer the Blues.

“We were looking for a striker who could hold the ball, be good in the air and make a contribution to the team both in attacking and defences scenarios,” he said.

“He was happy to come here and give us what we are expecting from him. He will fight at the top with the centre-backs, link play, give players time, and score goals. He is someone who will give everything for the team.

“He knows he is coming to challenge and compete for a position. He knows he is starting behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison but it is very competitive and this competition is something that has to be good for us.

“If the other strikers aren’t doing well, he can be there pushing to ensure he is a great addition for us.”

Everton go into Monday’s game high on confidence, having taken seven points from their opening three games.

Benitez’s team outplayed previously-unbeaten Brighton & Hove Albion last time out – with Demarai Gray and Calvert-Lewin on target in a 2-0 win on the south coast – and the Blues manager has challenged his players to sustain their high performance levels against Burnley.

“Our team spirit and the commitment is really good,” Benitez said.

“The way that we are playing, we are scoring goals, we got a clean sheet in the last matchday. A lot of positives.

“I think we have to expect even more from this group of players because they have the quality and the right mentality. I think they will be better, but at the moment I’m really pleased with them.

“Burnley is a strong team. Physically, they are very strong. They know each other really well, they know the manager, how they want to play, the style… The strikers are strong and good in the air. [Dwight] McNeil has a good left foot, good deliveries.

“It’s a very dangerous team to play against. But we have confidence, and we will try to be sure that we do well.”

See below for further key points from Rafa Benitez’s pre-match press conference….

On Everton’s summer transfer business…

I’m really happy with the players that we have brought in because they were the players we needed.  They know what we are looking for and the commitment of these players is very clear for everyone to see.

Rondon and all the others we have signed, they know what we want, what the fans want here, and they know how we have to work to ensure that we can be successful.

We didn’t spend a lot of money, but we had some good signings. Could it be better? Yes, because if you had more money you could do it [spend more]... The Financial Fair Play rules were killing us in this window.

Hopefully, in the next window, it will be different. But I’m really pleased because the players that we have brought are the players that we needed. Maybe we needed more players in some positions, but this is what we could do so I think we did quite well.

On rumoured transfer interest in James…

I wasn’t involved in the conversations. I know there was some clubs interested but that’s it. If the offer was good, then you know the Financial Fair Play rules… It was important for us to create some space for other players, we couldn’t do it and now we have to manage that.

Now we just have the Middle East window open it is not easy and I think he has realised that he has to improve in a lot of areas. He has to focus and show his commitment – that is what he is trying to do.

If he stays with us, then it is good news for us. He can give us something more. We don’t have any doubt about his quality but, as a manager, I have to be sure that we have players playing 90 minutes at the intensity we are looking for and with the quality they have.

On whether he can envision having a long Everton tenure similar to Sean Dyche’s at Burnley….

Yes, why not? That would mean that we are successful, and I am happy. I’m sure if I were to stay here for 10 years it is because the owners will be happy and support me and the fans would be happy, too.

Normally, when you stay a long time in a club, it means that you are doing things right, so if I stay for a long time then maybe we are winning some trophies and it will be fine for everyone.

On Richarlison’s availability for the Burnley game after Brazil triggered a rule stopping other national team players from playing this weekend…

We are in a much better position than anyone because, when we allowed him to go to the Olympic Games, we were in contact with them [Brazil] and we told them that it was a complicated situation for us.

We could understand how important the Olympics Games were for their nation. We have a very good relationship with them, they understand, and Richarlison wasn’t an issue.