Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin left Paul Merson in awe with his goal against Crystal Palace. The Sky Sports pundit now feels he may force a way into England’s World Cup side.
Calvert-Lewin broke the deadlock in the 11th minute of the Toffees’ Premier League game with the Eagles at Goodison Park. All under the eye of Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, who The Guardian notes was at Saturday’s game as he prepares for the Qatar tournament.
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England travel to the Middle East to take on Iran, the United States and Wales in Group B next month. The Three Lions begin their tournament on November 21 before matches on the 25th and 29th. Southgate led his country to the World Cup semi-finals at Russia 2018.
Calvert-Lewin has not represented England since July 2021 whilst playing a bit-part role at Euro 2020. Southgate only utilised the striker as a substitute in two games en route to the final with Italy. The 25-year-old got his 11th and last cap in the quarter-final with Ukraine.
But Merson feels Calvert-Lewin may be one of the 55 players that Southgate named in his provisional World Cup squad. The Football Association had to submit its preliminary team for Qatar on Friday. The Daily Mail reports Southgate did not inform those that he named.
Calvert-Lewin’s ‘bit of skill’ captivated Merson to score for Everton vs Palace
Calvert-Lewin has not represented England in over a year due to the Everton star’s almost endless injuries. He missed four months of last season with a quadriceps injury and missed the start of this campaign after sustaining a knee injury ahead of the Toffees’ first fixture.
Crystal Palace’s trip to Everton on Saturday marked just Calvert-Lewin’s second start of the term, as well. He enjoyed his first opening call of the campaign at Newcastle United during the week. Now, the Sheffield-born forward has a maiden goal for the campaign in his tally.
His deadlock-breaking shot captivated Merson whilst speaking on Sky Sports News (22/10, 15:11). The Arsenal hero gushed over Calvert-Lewin’s attempt that put Everton ahead at home to Crystal Palace. It was only the ninth goal that the Toffees have scored this season.
“He might be in the 54, Calvert-Lewin,” Merson stated. “What a goal he’s got here. They lose the ball, Palace. It plays it into him, he flicks it around the defender, one-on-one with the ‘keeper, hits it across the ‘keeper. It’s a proper good finish.
“It looks like [Luke] Milivojevic just gives the ball away but it’s a great bit of play. What a finish and what a bit of skill. And 1-0, they’ve been the better team by a distance in this first 10 minutes… He wins the ball back, as well, and just look at that. What a goal.
“Milivojevic loses the ball, it comes into him and he flicks it away [Marc] Guehi one way, goes the other and then finishes very cooly. What a good finish, what a good finish.”
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