Dominic Calvert-Lewin has praised Dele Alli’s “mental toughness” and has backed the midfielder to be a success at Everton.
Having signed from Tottenham in January, the 25-year-old has faced a battle to earn a starting spot in Frank Lampard’s side and pundit Stan Collymore recently went as far as suggesting Dele could consider retirement. It was a claim that was emphatically rejected by the Blues boss , who said that the midfielder has been working hard at Finch Farm.
Though yet to make his first Everton start, the England international has appeared regularly as a substitute and has already impressed his new teammates. Speaking about Dele’s arrival at the club, Dominic Calvert-Lewin expects the ex-Spurs man to “rise to the challenge” and prove his doubters wrong.
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“Dele has settled really well and is working hard every day in training,” Calvert-Lewin told evertonfc.com . “He has everything: athleticism, technique, aggression, he is big and tall and strong.
“It [Everton move] is a platform for him to rebuild his confidence and showcase what he is about. Everyone knows what Dele is capable of – perhaps the criticism comes from frustration because people know what he can do.
“He has played for England and in the Champions League and scored against Real Madrid. Those things load expectation onto his shoulders but he is big enough and old enough and strong enough to accept that and rise to the challenge.”
After arriving at Spurs as a teenager from MK Dons, Dele instantly adjusted to life in the Premier League, scoring 28 league goals across his first two seasons and earning a place in the England squads for both Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup. His performances saw Dele touted as a potential world-class talent and Calvert-Lewin believes it is that level of expectation that has seen him face questions over his place in the Everon pecking order .
“People like to build someone up, then when they get there, tear them down,” he continued. “I respect his mental toughness and resolve to deal with that pressure. And I respect his decision to come here and take that risk to show people what he is about.
“I have no doubt he can do that and when he gets his opportunity, he will take it. People will always talk, no matter who you are and where you come from. I respect his mental toughness and I back him.”
