Could Calvert-Lewin still lead the Everton line?

BBC News

4 days ago

Time is ticking on Dominic Calvert-Lewin's Everton future.The 28-year-old is now into the final month of his contact with club and there is yet to be any announcement of an exit or new deal.In a recent BBC Sport interview, Calvert-Lewin talked of how he has led the line through one of the "most difficult" periods in the club's history and that "Everton will always be a place that is special to me, so we will see what happens".One thing that perhaps complicates the situation for the Toffees and Calvert-Lewin's future is his unfortunate recent history of injury and fitness issues.BBC Sport pundit Nedum Onuoha has suggested that the striker should be kept on, but as a "squad player" on a "reduced wage and perhaps appearance-based clauses".Calvert-Lewin joined the club from Sheffield United for £1.5m in 2016 and has since scored 71 goals in 273 games across all competitions.The England international's impact steadily grew and his most prolific season in the Premier League came in 2020-21 when he netted 16 goals in 33 games.His shot conversion rate peaked at 19% while his minutes-per-goal ratio was at its lowest at one every 180 minutes.That was also the season where he spent the most time on the pitch racking up 2874 minutes.The previous season had also been one where he showed his capabilities in front of goal - also reaching double figures with 13 - and where he played the most games of his league career with 36.However, 2021-22 is when issues with injuries and fitness really started to appear.His appearances in the league fell from 33 to just 17, but he was still able to contribute in front of goal with a shot conversion rate equal to that of 2019-20.The following season was particularly difficult, with just 17 appearances again, his fewest minutes on the pitch since his debut campaign, a minutes-per-goal ratio that more than doubled to 586 and shot conversion rate down at 6%.In the past two seasons, although he has managed to pick up the numbers when it comes to games, how much of those he has spent on the pitch has evolved.Although he played 32 times in 2023-24, he started 26 of those and often did not get to finish the match, being substituted off on 22 occasions.Last campaign, he started just over half the 26 matches he played and was subbed off in just under half of those.It meant he struggled to return to the same levels of output as he produced during his peak campaigns, with just 10 goals across the past 58 games.If a new deal can be reached with Everton, unless he can rekindle his previous form, Calvert-Lewin may have to adapt to a more supporting role in the team than that of the first-choice striker.