‘He has pace’, ‘strong in the air’: Alan Shearer wowed by Everton ace

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Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been named in Alan Shearer’s latest Premier League Team of the Week.

The 23-year-old scored a hat-trick in Saturday’s early game against West Brom, which saw the Toffees run out 5-2 winners at Goodison Park.

The visitors struck first through Grady Diangana, but Calvert-Lewin equalised in the 31st minute with a close-range backheel, allowed to stand after a VAR review.

A dramatic end to the first half saw James Rodriguez put Everton ahead with a clinical finish, before Albion defender Kieran Gibbs and boss Slaven Bilic were both sent off.

Despite being a man down and with their manager sent to the stands, the away side drew level after the restart through Matheus Pereira’s impressive free kick.

However, Everton retook the lead in the 54th minute as Michael Keane poked home after Sam Johnstone parried Richarlison’s header.

Calvert-Lewin then made sure of victory with a quickfire brace, a close-range strike on 62 minutes followed by a header four minutes later.

The 6ft 2in marksman was rewarded for his impressive display by making Shearer’s XI alongside Sadio Mane, Wilfried Zaha and Son Heung-min in attack.

“Showed what a well-rounded striker he is as he scored his first career hat-trick, at the age of 23,” Shearer wrote on the Premier League website.

“He has pace, is strong in the air and has that great habit of being in the right place at the right time.”

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Calvert-Lewin has repaid Carlo Ancelotti’s faith in him with 13 goals in 23 games under the Italian, including the superb weekend hat-trick.

In 2018-19, there was criticism from sections of the Everton fanbase, who praised his work rate but wondered whether his finishing was that of a top-flight striker.

However, Calvert-Lewin has gone on to answer his critics emphatically, as shown by his impressive tally and a much improved eye for goal.

Even better for Everton, he is contracted to the club until 2025, so Toffees fans can look forward to a lot more from him in a strong line-up and under a world-class manager.