The name’s Gray… Demarai Gray.
He was denied his (double 0) seventh goal of the season by VAR on Saturday but number 11 is still being given a “licence” to thrill by Sean Dyche on his special mission to try and keep Everton in the Premier League. Despite not starting in Dyche’s first five games in charge of the Blues, Gray was recalled for the trip to Nottingham Forest and marked his return by scoring from the penalty spot to put the visitors ahead in a 2-2 draw.
The 26-year-old is Everton’s top scorer so far this season with his effort from 12 yards out at the City Ground being his sixth goal of the campaign but after slotting in against Brentford at Goodison Park, referee Simon Hooper disallowed his effort for a supposed handball after consulting with David Coote who was on VAR duties back at Stockley Park. Video evidence both inside the stadium at the time and on television since looks inconclusive while a still photograph of the incident seems to show the ball hitting Gray’s chest but despite the setback – the player himself took to Instagram to share a picture of him celebrating in front of the Park End with the caption: “Thanks VAR” – Dyche is pleased with how the former Leicester City man is taking to his new task of leading the line.
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Dyche typically played with two strikers in a 4-4-2 formation for the bulk of his time at previous post Burnley and would often pick physical, target men up front. But having lost Dominic Calvert-Lewin to injury in the first game of his tenure at home to Arsenal and tried both Ellis Simms and Neal Maupay without finding the net, he has now turned to Gray at Everton.
Given that the player is naturally a winger, used to flair play like dribbling at opponents from deep or wide positions, Dyche admits there are certain concessions afforded to him as he gets to grips with his new role.
He said: “Demarai is not an out-and-out centre-forward so we’ve got to give him a little bit of licence to play just as himself. Really there’s that open look at him because at the minute he’s learning fast because although he has played there, he hasn’t played there regularly so we’ve got to expect that some of his game adapts quickly and it’s something that he has to learn.
“He kept working. He showed patches where he carries it well and into the right areas and he worked hard for the team and it’s not always easy when you’re playing a strong outfit and defensively strong outfit like Brentford.”
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