Dewsbury-Hall vows to keep chasing England dream after Everton win

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall says he will never give up on playing for England after responding to his latest omission with a goal in Everton’s 3-1 win over Coventry.

The midfielder sealed Friday’s comeback victory at Hill Dickinson Stadium hours after Thomas Tuchel named his Nations League squad without him.

Thierno Barry scored twice to overturn Coventry’s lead before releasing Dewsbury-Hall for Everton’s third, nine minutes from time. The result lifted David Moyes’ side to fifth, above Liverpool on the night.

For Dewsbury-Hall, it was a satisfying end to a day that had begun with disappointment.

“It’s a massive dream of mine to play for my country. I know I was close,” he told Sky Sports, in comments reported by BBC Sport.

“All I can keep doing is putting in good performances and hopefully one day I get the nod, because I’m never going to give up.”

Dewsbury-Hall responds to England omission

Tuchel acknowledged that the 28-year-old had been “very close” to selection and praised his season at Everton. Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham was among those included.

Dewsbury-Hall did not disguise how much the decision had hurt, but took pride in the way he had responded.

His goal followed two quick strikes from Barry after Yann Gboho had put Coventry ahead early in the second half. Barry then turned provider, splitting the visitors’ defence with a pass that sent Dewsbury-Hall clear to beat Carl Rushworth at his near post.

It was another contribution to a productive spell on Merseyside. Since the start of last season, Dewsbury-Hall has scored 11 Premier League goals and supplied seven assists for Everton.

Moyes gives midfielder freedom to flourish

Dewsbury-Hall’s route to becoming a central figure at Everton has included loans at Blackpool and Luton, promotion with Leicester and a season of limited league opportunities at Chelsea.

He helped Leicester win the Championship under Enzo Maresca before following the Italian to Stamford Bridge in a £30m move. At Everton, he has found both regular football and the freedom to influence play in different areas.

“I’ve got a really good hybrid role in this team, where the gaffer is giving me the freedom to pop up all over the pitch,” he said.

That licence was evident in his run beyond the Coventry defence for the final goal. With the next scheduled international break in March, his task is to sustain that form and keep himself in Tuchel’s thinking.

Barry double takes Everton striker into double figures

Barry’s contribution was just as decisive. His two goals came within five minutes and took him to 10 in all competitions this season, already two more than he managed in his first campaign.

The striker finished a close-range scramble for his second before supplying the pass for Dewsbury-Hall’s goal.

Moyes welcomed the progress of a young forward carrying considerable responsibility in a small squad. Barry has now scored in three consecutive Everton appearances, with six goals in his past seven games.

Coventry manager Frank Lampard was left frustrated by the defeat and two unsuccessful penalty appeals. He maintained that Vitalii Mykolenko’s challenge on Taiwo Awoniyi took place on the penalty-area line rather than outside it.

Moyes marks Everton milestone with victory

The result also marked Moyes’ 592nd game in charge of Everton, matching Harry Catterick’s total across his spell from 1961 to 1973.

Writing in his programme notes, Moyes described being alongside Catterick as humbling and said his ambition was to bring trophies to the club, as his predecessor had done.

The manager was encouraged by Everton’s position but cautioned that the size of his squad could become a factor as the season progresses, according to the Guardian’s match report.

For Dewsbury-Hall, the immediate response to disappointment could scarcely have been better: a goal, a comeback win and another performance to support his England ambitions.

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