Southampton striker Che Adams has emphatically praised former Sheffield United teammate Dominic Calvert-Lewin ahead of the Toffees’ south coast clash with Southampton – but the Saints striker also issued a clear warning.
Interestingly, Calvert-Lewin made his professional debut for the Blades away at Leyton Orient in 2015 and Adams was the man who made way for his introduction into senior football.
Adams wasted no time in praising the Everton hitman for his prolific form, with Calvert-Lewin remarkably starting the Premier League season with ten goals in seven appearances and a debut England goal after being awarded his first senior call-up.
“He is a very, very good player and he is getting his rewards now, what he deserves, which is scoring goals for England,” said Adams.
“You can tell he had something, enough to play the way he plays now. He is very athletic, very dynamic.
“We will need to keep him quiet, then anything can happen,” he said.
Adams equally added that confidence is a major factor in determining a player’s form. In his first full season in the Premier League, Calvert-Lewin managed only four goals – the exact total that Che Adams reached during his first full campaign. Aside from a coincidental parallel, Adams highlighted the role of form.
“You can talk to [Danny] Ings about that,” he said. “Once you hit the back of the net a few times in quick succession you keep scoring.
“In the Championship I had games where I could go all game without the ball and then when it came to me I would score. It is just confidence really.
“It is just something that you have to make sure you don’t take for granted and build on each and every game.”
The Toffees have also been dealt both foreseen and unforeseen blows ahead of their south coast clash with Southampton at the weekend.
Everton were already set to lose key Brazilian attacker Richarlison to suspension following the red card he received after a lunging tackle.
His absence will now be compounded by Ancelotti’s latest comments to the Everton club website confirming that the Colombian attacker James Rodriguez will also miss the weekend’s south coast trip following a minor injury he sustained against Liverpool.
“Unfortunately, James had a problem during the game [against Liverpool],” Ancelotti told evertontv.
“He had a mistimed tackle with Virgil van Dijk at the beginning of the game and I think he will not be available for the game against Southampton.”
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Adams is right to highlight the role of form.
Given further blows to Ancelotti’s options, the Toffees must be careful not to underestimate the attacking potency of the Saints. Adams himself is already off the mark this season, managing a goal against Chelsea. There is every chance he could amplify the Saints attacking threats with a continuation of his scoring form.
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