Calvert-Lewin on overcoming early criticism, why he loves to watch Jack Grealish and how 'Big Dunc' spurred him on at Everton: "He said: 'You're my No. 9, you're my man' - that was all I needed to hear because I had never heard that before from anybody."
Sunday 28 March 2021 09:24, UK
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the latest Premier League player to join Laura Woods and Bayo Akinfenwa on the Super 6 Podcast.
Calvert-Lewin has 14 Premier League goals to his name this campaign as Everton - only five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and with a game in hand - bid to finish in the Champions League places.
The striker is currently with England for their World Cup 2022 Qualifiers and netted twice in an opening 5-0 win over San Marino.
Before he joined up with Gareth Southgate's squad, he took the time to talk all things England and Everton on the Super 6 Podcast...
Calvert-Lewin was handed his England debut and first international start in a comfortable 3-0 victory over Wales, grabbing a goal after just 26 minutes. That moment alone was a culmination of hard work and desire, Calvert-Lewin explained.
"When I scored the goal there were no fans, so there wasn't that raw emotion or adrenaline rush, but when the ball hit the back of the net and you heard the little roar from the players in the stadium and the coaches, I looked to the sky," he told the Super 6 Podcast.
"If you can imagine you have thought about something your whole life, and you have invested everything you have got into achieving that moment, and then the ball hits the back of the net for England and you are wearing the number nine shirt. It was relief really, to know that I have scored on my England debut.
"The whole scenario didn't really hit me until I got home. I was in a bubble of one thing after another, thinking about the next game, I scored and was doing interviews. It was a whirlwind, but to achieve that on my debut, I was thinking how proud my family would have been. I couldn't wait to speak to my mum and dad just to say I have done it, nobody can ever take that away from me!"
Reading out his England text message for the internationals coming up, Calvert-Lewin relived his excitement at hearing his phone ping from Southgate for the first time.
"The first time I got called up, I know the lads who have been called up for England before they get a text message an hour before the squad is announced," he said.
"I remember when I was hoping to get called up for the first time. I went out to train and I came back in hoping I had a text. I had a text from Gareth (Southgate) and then from Emily at the FA saying I had been called up. As soon as I knew I was calling my family letting them know I had been called up."
Southgate's England side boasts plenty of attacking talent but who impressed the Everton striker the most during his last spell away with his country?
"My favourite player was Jack Grealish; top man!
"He is a naturally gifted footballer and for me, he is a joy to watch. If I could watch any player play, it would be him. He can do everything - he is exciting and tries to make things happen. I see him up close in training - because he is a relaxed guy, as soon as he is on the training pitch and the ball comes out, he is operating on a different level.
"For me to play with him as a centre-forward, they are the type of guys you want to play with because he is making things happen and he set my debut goal up. It was only a matter of time until he got his chance, he just had to stay consistent and keep doing what he was doing. When he played I thought he played really well."
From the suit and tie in the rain at Old Trafford to hugging the ball boy, Duncan Ferguson has been right at the very centre of all things Everton, even after he left the field of play as a player.
Calvert-Lewin explained how influential the current assistant coach had been on his career.
"Big Dunc has been the best possible mentor. He was in the first team when I joined as a 19-year-old and he is still there now, so he has been behind the scenes with me from the start to now," said Calvert-Lewin.
"I had the number nine shirt at the start of the season. When he became the manager, he made me feel like the number nine. It was the confidence boost that I needed. He pulled me aside and said I was playing on Saturday, 'you're my number nine, you're my man.' That was all I needed to hear because I had never heard that before from anybody.
"That put confidence in myself, and thankfully I was able to repay him with a couple of goals against Chelsea. More than anything, he has been an ear for me to speak to whenever I have needed to, through the highs and lows. When I am going through a bit of a goal-drought he's saying 'you're the man, you're the man, keep plugging away'."
Although the Everton striker is in the form of his life at the moment, he has had his fair share of criticism during his career, from being a youngster at Sheffield United to an established first-team player at Everton.
"I experienced it at Sheffield United, where there were rumours that Everton were coming in for me and I was going there for a million pounds," he said.
"At that time, I am a kid who uses social media like Twitter. Sheffield United fans were saying they would walk and carry me there, wanting me to go. As a boyhood Sheffield United fan, that still cuts me deep. That's now how I envisioned my Sheffield United career going.
"One thing I would say to young players is to flip it on its head and use it as motivation to prove people wrong, that is what I have always tried to do.
"I went to Everton, and it's levels - the higher up you get, you are under more and more scrutiny as a football player. You have to learn to deal with it at that scale and gradually progress to be able to deal with it at an even higher scale."
You too can get involved with Super 6, as another round takes place on Saturday. Correctly predict the six scorelines to land yourself a quarter of million pounds, FOR FREE! Make sure you have entered your selections by 3pm Saturday.
Round 45 fixtures:
Bristol Rovers vs Sunderland
Hull vs Gillingham
Wigan vs Ipswich
Peterborough vs Accrington Stanley
MK Dons vs Doncaster
Shrewsbury vs Portsmouth
