Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been shining for Everton – but he is yet to be rewarded with a first call-up to the England national team.
The midfielder scored his eighth Premier League goal of the season at the weekend in the defeat to West Ham United.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is one of the best signings Everton have made in years, isn’t he?!
Not only does he have great final third output, but he's got the work-rate to boot 🔥
A custom graphic showing a statistic about Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
via Opta, March 17
That took his goal involvement tally to 14 so far, which is a fantastic return.
With Beto and Thierno Barry both lacking that ruthless edge in front of goal, it has been most welcome to have a player like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall chipping in from deeper.
With the World Cup now just around the corner, some have talked about Dewsbury-Hall as being a surprise inclusion by Thomas Tuchel.
He would certainly be deserving, but Dewsbury-Hall spoke earlier this week about why he hasn’t been called up yet.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall suggests his injury may have prevented England chance
James Garner got called up to the England squad for the first time last month, with Tuchel starting him against Uruguay and then handing him more minutes against Japan.
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It was a deserved moment for Garner, who has been so consistent this term in several different positions for Everton.
But sadly, Garner’s teammate Dewsbury-Hall was overlooked.
On Monday Night Football, Dewsbury-Hall’s data against other English midfielders and wingers was shown – and he is top of the pile for minutes-per-goal.
His theory as to why he hasn’t had an England chance yet is that his mid-season just slowed his momentum.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on the ball for Everton.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
He said: “There’s been whispers. I know I’m probably pretty close to maybe getting a call-up. But I do think I maybe got an injury at a crucial time in the season, where I was playing really well before and scoring goals, and that sort of set me back a couple of weeks, even though I’ve come back and hit the ground running again.
“You know what it’s like in a big season before a major tournament.
“If there’s player that’s on the periphery, you need to be playing every game and I think that might be the only thing that set me back.”
Dewsbury-Hall is right
With Dewsbury-Hall having the lowest minutes-per-goal metric out of all English midfielders and wingers, there is certainly a case for him to be involved with England right now.
The fact that he’s not is a bit of a shame. But the player is probably right with his theory.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for Everton
Appearances – 27
Minutes played – 2284
Goals – 8
Assists – 6
Minutes-per-goal – 148
*in Premier League only
The hamstring injury he picked up cost him six Premier League games.
He didn’t play against Arsenal, Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Brentford, Wolves and Aston Villa, and there is definitely a reasonable chance he could have made contributions against some of those sides.
He more than likely won’t go to the World Cup but he can take heart from the fact he couldn’t have done any more. Sadly, the stars just haven’t aligned for him, but hopefully it will spur him on the become a regular pick for England in the future.
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