Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s first-half goal secured Everton a deserved 1-0 Premier League victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday night
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall continued his impressive form for Everton on Monday night
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall continued his impressive form for Everton on Monday night
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Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is confident he can play his way into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad ahead of next summer’s World Cup. Dewsbury-Hall continued his impressive form on Monday night as Everton overcame Idrissa Gueye’s moment of madness to finally end David Moyes’ Old Trafford hoodoo.
Gueye lost his head less than 13 minutes in when he slapped team-mate Michael Keane, but Dewsbury-Hall’s first-half goal secured the Toffees a 1-0 win. Dewsbury-Hall recently pledged his international allegiance to the Three Lions despite years of efforts from the Republic of Ireland to call him up.
Tuchel held talks with a number of Everton players following the game at Old Trafford, and Dewsbury-Hall has admitted he wouldn’t be doing himself justice if he didn’t think he could become part of the German’s plans.
“As an Englishman, that is one of my biggest dreams (to play for England); all I can do is keep putting in performances like that,” he told NBC Sport.
“Competition is fierce, but I would be doing myself a disjustice if I said I couldn’t do it. Look, I am playing week in week out for a fantastic club in the Premier League, who are on the up.
“All I am going to focus on is get wins like that and then see what happens.”
Dewsbury-Hall's goal was worthy of winning the game, and despite playing so long with 10-men, the Blues star revealed: "The gaffer said to us – the first thing he said to us – was that we want to be better this year.
"We want to be better on the ball, we want to create more chances – but he also told us we should never, ever lose the identity of what it is to play for this football club, which is working hard, grit, determination, because that's in Everton's DNA.
"That's what people have done for years and years at this club. I'm knowing that and I've only been here a couple of months. If you can mix both [quality and determination], then you've got a really good recipe for a successful season."
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish of Everton celebrate during the Premier League win over Manchester United. Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish of Everton celebrate during the Premier League win over Manchester United. Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
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Before he continued: "I don't know what it was like watching it, but playing in the game, yeah, they had possession, but I didn't actually feel that threatened.
"Obviously, they have one or two chances that you're going to have in a half where Jordan's bailed us out, but, on the whole, it felt like we were comfortable enough.
"I thought both centre-backs were unbelievable. We had our wingers tracking every run from crosses – and that shows a lot about the lads, and that shows a lot about how the gaffer's got us going.
"If you don't make those five-yard [defensive] runs, even once in 20, that can be the difference, but they were there every time.
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"That's the most satisfying thing for me and the thing we can take away from this – yes, we want to be really pretty and good, which we will be, but we've still got that other side if we need it."
The Blues return to action on Saturday evening when they welcome Newcastle United to Hill Dickinson Stadium.
"Look, this is an unbelievable night for the club," Dewsbury-Hall said. "You definitely have to celebrate it and enjoy it, but in five days we've got another game.
"This is the life of the Premier League. You have to look forward, and we'll be in, recovering, getting ready for the next game. Then it comes again.
"We've got more games coming in quick successions and if we get some good results together, we can be really pushing to the top of the table, which is what we want to be doing. So enjoy this, but we're firmly fixed on the next one now."
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