Dominic Calvert-Lewin says he “felt like myself again” after scoring his first goal of the season in Everton’s excellent 3-0 home victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Calvert-Lewin set the Blues on their way to a comprehensive win with a wonderfully-taken goal 11 minutes into the game.
After starting the move himself by winning possession from Palace’s Luka Milivojevic, Calvert-Lewin then collected Alex Iwobi’s pass and skilfully turned Marc Guehi in one movement, before coolly slotting home.
He continued to pose a threat throughout the contest, with his work-rate and link-up play setting the tone for a complete Everton display.
The Blues’ superiority was rewarded in the second half with further goals from Anthony Gordon and substitute Dwight McNeil.
"We needed that win,” said Calvert-Lewin, who made just his second start of the season after missing the beginning of campaign through injury.
“It's a great feeling to be back at Goodison. For the team and for myself to get the win today, it went exactly how I wanted it to go.
“For my goal, it’s been a while. It’s one I’ve been waiting for, one I’ve been looking forward to and I felt like myself today.
“It means everything. As a striker you feed off confidence and you feed off goals so for me to get the goal in the way that I did was nice to start the game.
“A lot of hard work has gone into getting that first goal of the season, so I am over the moon."
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Calvert-Lewin says the intensity Everton performed with throughout the game offers a template for how they must approach every Goodison clash.
“That’s what we have to do,” he added.
“We want to make it a fortress and start games the way we did. We have to make it difficult for the opposition, get the fans behind us, win tackles, and be dynamic at the top of the pitch.
“I think we did that today and we came away with the win.”
England boss Gareth Southgate attended Saturday’s game and, with the World Cup just over four weeks away, Calvert-Lewin was asked about hopes of forcing his way into the Three Lions manager’s plans.
"It’s every boy's dream to go to the World Cup,” Calvert-Lewin said.
“I’ve been counting down the days to get back on the pitch. All I can do is play the best I can for Everton and score goals and see where that takes me.
“First and foremost, it’s what I do here at Everton."
