'i've Led The Line Through Everton's Hardest Premier League Period'

Among nan galore 'last ever' occasions astatine Goodison Park that are evoking mixed emotions among nan Everton fanbase, location is simply a script wherever Blues supporters could besides beryllium saying goodbye to a striker pinch almost a decade's loyal service.

There's been truthful overmuch going connected - again - astatine Everton this run that nan early of Dominic Calvert-Lewin has possibly gone nether nan radar.

The 28-year-old has been astatine Everton since 2016, joining nan nine for £1.5m from Sheffield United, and has scored 57 Premier League goals successful 235 appearances.

His astir prolific play was 2020-21 erstwhile he scored 21 goals successful 39 games successful each competitions and was portion of nan England squad that reached nan Euros last that summer.

However, since that run Calvert-Lewin has struggled to replicate those awesome numbers because of a deficiency of shape and wounded issues. His past England headdress was successful 2021.

He's besides had a floor plan disconnected nan pitch, pinch candid interviews astir his intelligence wellness and appearing connected nan beforehand covers of manner magazines.

Now, arsenic Calvert-Lewin approaches nan past mates of months of his contract, he tells BBC Sport astir his purpose of playing astatine Goodison again this play and nan situation of being Everton's number 9 done 3 of nan club's "most difficult seasons successful Premier League history".

Calvert-Lewin describes a play pinch conscionable 3 goals successful only 22 Premier League games arsenic "mixed" - fixed nan uplift from nan assignment of head David Moyes successful January contrasted pinch his ain hamstring wounded astatine Brighton nan aforesaid month.

The Everton number 9 has been unavailable since, but is moving his measurement backmost to fittingness and is adjacent to a afloat return to training and selection.

"I was fresh for 18 months earlier this injury, and I was going beautiful good successful playing games and nan consistency of playing," he says.

"Physically I consciousness nan champion I person ever felt. I person worked difficult arsenic I ever do to get myself correct and successful nan champion information possible."

Everton are moving to their caller stadium successful nan Bramley-Moore Dock astatine nan extremity of this play and that is an added information for Calvert-Lewin.

"That was ever nan inducement for maine from nan infinitesimal I knew I was going to beryllium retired for a small while." Calvert-Lewin says. "I want to get backmost for astatine slightest that past crippled astatine Goodison.

"I've had truthful galore bully memories location and it has been nan biggest portion of maine increasing up.

"It is important that I person that opportunity again to play astatine Goodison and acquisition that past time there."

The Everton guardant has spoken astir really relentless wounded issues impacted his intelligence wellness - and astatine nan extremity of nan 2021-22 play said that talking 'saved his life'.

He says that past setbacks person built "wisdom and character", and that precocious becoming a begetter has changed his perspective.

"I person had my moments pinch injuries and reliable experiences pinch that. I'm older, I'm much mature, I'm a dada now and that has grounded maine successful ways I ne'er knew possible," Calvert-Lewin says.

The striker is besides known for his liking successful manner and has appeared connected mag covers and taken portion successful photoshoots for GQ Magazine - though nan caller begetter reveals that those days could beryllium down him.

"I'm a family man now and I person a young daughter, truthful my life has changed a lot." Calvert-Lewin says. "It's fixed maine different perspectives.

"My attraction is connected being nan champion subordinate I tin perchance beryllium and beryllium nan champion dada I tin perchance be.

"I deliberation connected nan manner broadside of things, it's for illustration anything, you turn and evolve, and it was appealing to maine backmost past to showcase that.

"Everyone has hobbies and different interests too things they do connected a day-to-day basis.

"I besides don't person clip to deliberation astir what to put connected successful nan greeting erstwhile my girl needs to get ready!"

Everton supporters will beryllium keen to cognize if nan striker is going to beryllium a portion of their squad for adjacent season.

Calvert-Lewin is 1 of a fewer players astatine Everton whose early is nether chat and BBC Sport has reported an connection is connected nan table. When asked astir his situation, he says successful his mind things are simple.

"I'm an Everton subordinate and my attraction will ever beryllium connected doing my champion for Everton and I person a batch of respect for Everton shot club," he says.

"It's fixed maine everything I person today.

"My main attraction is making judge I americium successful nan champion condition, it is for illustration going done a mini pre-season to get fresh for these past 4 games.

"With nan caller head coming successful nan nine is moving successful nan correct direction, there's a caller stadium and there's a batch to beryllium affirmative about.

"Who wouldn't want to beryllium portion of that?

"There was a batch of uncertainty for a agelong clip a small spot higher up and arguably nan past 3 seasons person been nan astir difficult successful Everton's Premier League history and I person been location starring nan statement done that.

"For maine it's built a batch of experience, and I person a batch of fond memories. Everton will ever beryllium a spot that is typical to me, truthful we will spot what happens."