From the moment Sean Dyche named his first Everton line-up just over a month ago, one of the lingering questions had been where Demarai Gray featured in his plans. It was not even clear whether he did fit in them at all.
The winger was one of Everton’s best players in the dying embers of Frank Lampard’s reign. He had little competition, but from the return of the domestic schedule to Lampard’s final game at West Ham, he was as effective as anyone in Royal Blue.
The high point was the stunning goal that earned Everton a surprise point at Manchester City, but over that period he provided glimpses that he could offer a genuine threat through the middle. Which is why as Dyche sought goals amid the injury problems endured by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has not been involved since the first hour of the new manager’s first game, Gray’s absence became increasingly stark.
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In his first game after losing Calvert-Lewin to a hamstring issue, Dyche turned to academy product Ellis Simms over his joint-top league scorer. In the games that followed it was Neal Maupay who led the line. Maupay got into some good positions, fought hard and earned the praise of his manager. He is still yet to score since September though.
Dyche was asked about Gray ahead of the weekend trip to Nottingham Forest. His comments at Finch Farm last week appeared to signal his faith had been retained in Maupay. He said: “We tried him [Gray] in a couple of different places since we’ve been here. He adds something different. But the team still has to be solid, we still have to find that balance. That’s what we have to do, find that balance.”
Those comments, which mirrored Dyche’s thoughts when previously asked what Gray needed to do to get into the team, appeared to suggest a concern that starting Gray would lead to principles being sacrificed elsewhere. While the defensive capabilities of Dyche’s favoured wide players Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi made an effective case for their selection in recent games - particularly as Everton played teams whose attacking strength came through wide areas - the argument not to give Gray an opportunity up top was less coherent.
On Sunday, Dyche made the change. And his decision - and Gray’s patience and perseverance - largely paid off. Gray put Everton ahead from the spot in the tenth minute, becoming Everton’s outright top scorer in the league in the process. But his influence on this game extended well beyond his goal. Gray hustled and harried Forest defenders, tracking back and showing a willingness to do some of the first-line-of-defence work that some critics have suggested led to Dyche selecting Maupay over him.
Maupay’s willingness to do the dirty work is one of his strengths, but Everton need a forward who can spearhead attacks from a side with few options and little ingenuity. Gray’s performance suggested he may be able to do that in the absence of Calvert-Lewin. While not the physical presence of his teammate, he was adept at working the channels when given the opportunity to chase the ball rather than having to outmuscle centre backs Felipe and Joe Worrall.
This enabled him to buy the time to allow teammates - most notably Abdoulaye Doucoure, McNeil and Iwobi - to support him and help Everton move up the pitch. This was key to Dyche’s gameplan, the Blues boss constantly urging his side to push up when they had the opportunity. Gray was able to chase long balls and pressure Forest’s defence while linking up with those around him when he was able to win control.
It was not perfect for Everton - Gray, like those given opportunities before him, missed a big chance at the end of the first half that would have given the Blues a firmer grip on three points. But it was a start. And what it does do is allow Dyche to get onto the pitch one of the few players who can produce something from nothing - as shown by Gray’s long range goals at the Etihad and in the Carabao Cup defeat at Bournemouth.
The extent to which Dyche doubted Gray’s ability to lead the forward line is unclear - he said recently that Gray has been dealing with a series of slight knocks since his appointment just over a month ago. The pair had spoken about what Dyche wanted to see from Gray though.
Gray himself accepts the lone striker role - or the false nine as he essentially was - is a tough one for him. Yet he does believe he has attributes that can allow him to take on that role, while also backing himself to display the work-rate Dyche demands of his players.
He opened up on this after the Forest match, saying: “It’s obviously a difficult role being up there alone but I know my attributes can cause teams problems and to score the penalty was a confidence boost for me. I have not been in the starting eleven these past few weeks, but whether I am on the flanks or central, I will give 100%."
Those words felt like an explicit answer to the questions Dyche might have posed to him behind closed doors. His performance did too, and his words following the game suggested he was on board with the new regime as he acknowledged Dyche had brought some progress: “Since the gaffer has come in, there have been improvements and results. There has been a lot of talk about our away form and on a different day, we take all three points. There are positives to take and now it’s about going back on the training pitch to keep building.”
Dyche spoke positively about Gray’s performance and in his words it was difficult to discern whether he had learnt anything new about his player, or whether he had simply been waiting for this opportunity to test him up front. But there did seem an acceptance Gray is now a viable option in the position many fans have been calling for him to be given a chance in, with Dyche saying: “He was just someone who I thought could affect the game and he showed a strong workload and had some moments when he could affect the game, so I was pleased. He is technically very good and he’s stronger than you think, so I was pleased for him.”
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