Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was tipped for an England call-up after he scored his 11th goal of the season as the Toffees fought back to draw at West Ham.
The 22-year-old grabbed a spectacular 44th-minute diving header after Mason Holgate had flicked on Lucas Digne’s corner.
That came four minutes after Issa Diop had given West Ham the lead when he headed in from Robert Snodgrass’ free-kick from the right touchline.
Calvert-Lewin is enjoying his most successful campaign and his tally of nine Premier League goals makes him the seventh-highest English scorer in this season’s top-flight.
With England captain, Harry Kane out until at least April with a hamstring injury and with Leicester’s Jamie Vardy retired from international football, Calvert-Lewin, who has represented the under-21s, could still force his way into Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2020.
“I’m hearing lots of names for England and you have to start throwing Dominic into the hat,” said Everton captain Seamus Coleman.
“The only thing you could’ve said against him in the past was that he had to score more goals and this season he is doing that and answering the critics.
“He is working ever so hard for the team and he has stepped up another level.”
Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti was also quick to praise the young forward.
“Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been really fantastic,” said the Italian. “He scores goals, which is important for him and for the squad. He is having good performances and was important.”
The draw means Everton remain 11th in the Premier League, and West Ham stays 16th but are only one point ahead of 18th-placed Aston Villa.
Before the match, hundreds of Hammers fans staged a peaceful protest about the running of the club in the week of the 10-year anniversary since David Sullivan and David Gold bought West Ham.
Some Hammers fans blame the co-owners for their perilous position in the Premier League after Manuel Pellegrini’s unsuccessful spell at the club saw West Ham re-appoint boss David Moyes 19 months after he had originally left the club.
Moyes, who this week admitted he had talked to Everton about a potential return to the club he managed for 11 years before they appointed Ancelotti in December, saw West Ham create the better chances when the game was goalless.
French forward Sebastien Haller, their £45m summer signing who has only scored twice in 15 games, had three first-half opportunities but headed wide from a Mark Noble cross, had a shot saved by Jordan Pickford and also headed off target from Aaron Cresswell’s cross.
Diop then scored his first goal of the season – but West Ham’s lead only lasted for four minutes as Calvert-Lewin brought Everton level just before half-time.
Eighteen-year-old substitute Anthony Gordon, making his Premier League debut, had a chance to win it for Everton but shot over after Darren Randolph – in goal in his first match since rejoining the Hammers from Middlesbrough – had parried Theo Walcott’s effort.
Neither team could really create a good opportunity in the final 30 minutes, with both sides thinking they had missed a good opportunity to push on and take the three points.
There was late controversy as West Ham substitute Albian Ajeti, when standing in front of Mason Holgate, pushed his head back into the face of the defender, but, following a video assistant referee check for a potential red card for violent conduct, no further action was taken.
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Source – BBC
