Having gone through October and November without a win in the Premier League and with just one victory under their belt from four league games so far this month, Everton have been going through a rather rough patch in their season, leading to public fan unrest and the departure of Marcel Brands from his role at as their director of football.

One factor that has contributed to Everton's poor form this season is the fact that Toffees striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin hasn't played a game since August as a result of a fractured toe.

Taking into account how he managed to score a goal in all three of Everton's opening games of the campaign that he played in, this shows just how important he is to the team in an attacking sense and why their results have dipped since he's been out of action.

Despite his injury, Calvert-Lewin has still managed to be linked with a move away from Goodison Park with fellow Premier League club Arsenal interested in signing him in the future.

Given how important he's proved himself to be for Everton this season alone, it would be nothing short of an unforgiveable disaster for the club and Rafa Benitez if he left anytime soon.

Since making his senior debut for the Toffees back in December 2016, the 24-year-old, who is currently valued at £40.5m according to Transfermarkt, has gone on to score 56 goals and provide 16 assists in 176 appearances across all competitions.

Having been praised by former Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti for being "cold" in front of goal, it's safe to say that Everton would be in a better position than the one they're currently in had Calvert-Lewin been available for the entire campaign.

With all of this in mind, Benitez will undoubtedly be hoping that not only will the England international be able to make a full recovery as soon as possible but also that he doesn't get tempted with a move away from the club to somewhere like Arsenal. An eventuality like that surely wouldn't improve the relationship between the Everton fans and Benitez.

On a more positive note, the fact that Calvert-Lewin's contract at the Merseyside club isn't set to expire until the summer of 2025 should put to bed any concerns that some Everton fans may have that he will be leaving anytime soon.

That said, with a torrid run of form, seeing their best player head for pastures new would only exacerbate their problems and the pressure on the manager's shoulders. Considering his relationship with the fans already, selling him could have disastrous consequences.

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