Calvert-Lewin turns to Inzaghi highlights on YouTube to help blossoming career

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been watching clips of Filippo Inzaghi to fine-tune his game after Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti drew comparisons between the strikers.

Calvert-Lewin has scored nine goals in six games this season for Everton, including two hat-tricks, in what has been a hugely encouraging start to 2020-21 for the Toffees.

Indeed, no player across Europe's top five leagues has scored as many goals in all competitions since the season began.

The 23-year-old's form earned him a first senior England call-up ahead of a friendly with Wales on Thursday and Nations League matches against Belgium and Denmark to follow.

Ancelotti suggested there were similarities between the styles of Calvert-Lewin and former Italy, Juventus and Milan striker Inzaghi, the 2006 World Cup winner who was one of Europe's elite penalty-box strikers for more than 20 years.

As a result, Calvert-Lewin sought out some old footage of Inzaghi, a winner of two Champions Leagues and three Serie A titles, to pick up some tips.

"Carlo's definitely had a positive influence on me," Calvert-Lewin said on Tuesday. "I think, for me, with the age I'm getting to now, I'm evolving as a centre-forward, I'm learning my craft and fine-tuning certain aspects of my game.

"Beforehand, I think I was guilty of doing a lot of my best work away from the goal. Now, I'm focusing on getting in between the sticks and putting the ball in the back of the net.

"I think that analogy from Carlo was just an emphasis on being in the right place at the right time, not to say that I'm a carbon copy of Pippo Inzaghi.

"But if there's elements of his game that I've been showing in my game at the moment, them one-touch finishes and being in the right areas and putting the ball in the back of the net.

"Funnily enough, he mentioned it to me before he came out and said it in the press, and I had a little YouTube of his goals, like a 15-minute reel of him. Obviously, a lot of his goals are one-touch finishes and he's got great movement.

"You can always learn. I'm still learning now, so I always try to take it in."

Calvert-Lewin would have been unlikely to be considered for Euro 2020 had the tournament gone ahead this year, but with the coronavirus pandemic pushing the finals back to 2021, he has a good chance of making Gareth Southgate's squad if he can keep up his form.

"My performances have got me here now," he said. "Consistency is key. If I stay consistent, I like to think I'd be in with a chance of playing in the Euros."