Everton striking legend Gray urges Dyche to put Beto and DCL up front

Eighties star striker Andy Gray has urged Sean Dyche to try and use Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin together in a new-look Everton strike force.

The arrival of Beto this summer has been arguably the most significant addition for the Toffees in several successive transfer windows.

Last summer Everton failed to bring in a striker who could solve their goal-scoring problems as Neal Maupay wasn’t able to fulfill expectations.

This was a major factor in the struggles the Blues team had once again last season as predictably Calvert-Lewin missed most of the campaign out injured.

Now the Portuguese forward has joined the club and while it is still early days, the signs are good that the former Udinese striker could make a real difference to the side.

Beto has shown strength and power, has proved a genuine goal threat really dangerous in the air and appears adept at kniting the team’s attacking play together.

With Calvert-Lewin recovering from his most recent problem the facial injury he received early on in the 4-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

So, the question is could and should Dyche consider partnering his two athletic forwards together in a new-look striking force.?

Although he has proved an effective focal point for Everton’s attack since coming into the side more or less since he signed, he is not really an out-and-out number nine.

His best role is probably operating as a more deeper-lying striker who thrives particularly on the counter-attack.

Calvert-Lewin is that sort of traditional centre-forward of course who can lead the line with genuine dynamism, when fit, and so it could be that the two can be paired up front.

To do so though Dyche will need to adjust his overall tactics and will need to consider altering his favoured formations.

If the manager moves to some type of 4-4-2 with Beto playing off Calvert-Lewin then that would mean dropping a midfielder. So who might that be?

None of the Toffees midfield starters have been particularly outstanding since the beginning of the campaign with all having very much up and down performances.

There were tentative signs that Amadou Onana might be finding his better form in the 2-2 draw at Sheffield United.

Then again we’ve seen that before from the tall, rangy Belgian midfielder only for him to relapase into the more mediocre performances that prove immensely frustrating to see.

Both Abdoulaye Doucoure and Idrissa Gueye have also been in very average form so far and one of those might lose their place.

But, given that Gueye has been a virtual ever-present, presumably Doucoure would be the one who would be sacrificed.

There is also the question of what does all this mean for Arnaut Danjuma. The Blues loan signing from Villarreal has got himself on the scoresheet and looked a dangerous threat at United.

He could play in the left wing but that was Dwight McNeil’s best position last season and hopefully he will also be available again when Everton host Arsenal this coming weekend.

All this is pure speculation and I have to say that I doubt Dyche will be looking to go with two up front against the Gunners, instead relying on his tried and tested formation.

But, with the Toffees in desperate need of more points and that means more goals, it might become essential to pair the two and see if they can build a partnership that just might prove transformative.