Dominic Calvert-Lewin insists Everton will be ready for a battle when they head to The Den to tackle Millwall in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Marco Silva’s Toffees booked their place in the fourth round with a 2-1 win over League Two Lincoln City, while the Lions secured safe passage with a come-from-behind victory over fellow second tier side Hull City.
Millwall’s Bermondsey home is renowned for its atmosphere, but 21-year-old striker Calvert-Lewin says that will have little bearing on an Everton side determined to land silverware.
The Blues are also looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-1 defeat in the Premier League at the hands of Southampton last time out.
“We have to now focus on Millwall because the FA Cup is something we want to go for and do the best we can in,” Calvert-Lewin told evertontv. “We have to put Saturday behind us, learn from it and go into the Millwall game and put it right.
“It is a chance to win a trophy so we will be putting everything into it. We will work hard [this week] and we will not be taking Millwall lightly. We will analyse them but try to bring onto the pitch what we know we can.
“The away support we have is always phenomenal and we want to put on a show for them. It’s high stakes – you lose and you’re out but win and you progress. We want to go on and go as far as we can in the competition.”
Calvert-Lewin was recently rewarded for a fine 2018 as he was named England’s Under-21s Player of the Year, voted for by a panel of experts at BT Sport.
The former Sheffield United trainee has 10 goals for Club and country this season - including six for Everton - with his most recent a crisp strike to seal victory over Bournemouth.
The youngster, however, is eager to make an impact on the Blues’ FA Cup chances and, having experienced The Den before, is ready for the battle that lies ahead on Saturday.
“That has to be [the aim],” he added. “Every time I am on the pitch it is an opportunity to try and impress and score goals. The next game will be no different for me.
“It has been a good week, with another accolade to add to the collection. It is always nice to be acknowledged, especially by people who play my position. It was a nice award to have and a confidence boost for me.
“I have played at The Den before. When I was a little bit younger, playing for Northampton [on loan from Sheffield United], I played there a couple of times. So The Den is a familiar place for me.
“It has always been a loud atmosphere on those occasions, and I am sure it will be no different. That is something you have to enjoy. It is the FA Cup and we are all looking forward to it.
“It will be a physical game – that is to be expected down there. It will be a battle, just like it has been when I have played against them before. But I will be ready.”
