Gareth Southgate has said that Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s decision to remove his hat when meeting him on England duty ‘really hit’ him.
The Liverpool Echo quote the Three Lions boss as saying: ‘It really hit me when he did it actually! It was a small thing, but I think those small things are really important. I wouldn’t insist everybody does that, but you take things on board like that don’t you?’
Southgate was welcoming the former Sheffield United striker after handing him his first call-up to the senior side, following a remarkable run of form by Everton’s No.9.
Calvert-Lewin has already scored nine goals this season in just six games.
He currently sits joint-top of the Premier League scoring ranks alongside Tottenham’s Son Heung-min on six goals, and also hit a Carabao Cup hat-trick against West Ham.
The in-form marksman – who Spotrac state earns £20,000-a-week at Goodison Park – is truly thriving under Carlo Ancelotti’s tutelage.
Calvert-Lewin has also been very smart to treat Southgate so respectfully.
It sounds simplistic, but at a time where the likes of Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden are attracting attention for the wrong reasons, it is crucial that the Toffees striker – a new member of the squad – doesn’t give Southgate any more problems to deal with.
Sky Sports have reported that the 23-year-old is expected to start for England against Wales tonight, signalling a landmark moment in the forward’s career.
If any player in England deserves his call-up right now, it’s Calvert-Lewin.
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