This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Everton are struggling for goals this season but getting Moise Kean playing consistently in his main position could change Marco Silva's fortunes.

On the chalkboard

Since their 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Toffees have succumbed to three consecutive defeats in the Premier League, registering just two goals and conceding eight in that time.

To make matters worse, Everton have surprisingly found themselves in an early relegation scrap sitting just two points above the drop zone in 15th place, with Newcastle United, Watford and Brighton & Hove Albion the only teams to score fewer than their six.

This has been the main issue for Silva's men because despite their poor defensive record, they showed earlier on in the campaign that they can remain solid at the back by keeping clean sheets at Selhurst Park and against Watford. However, the victory against Wolves is the only time the Toffees have scored more than one goal in a Premier League fixture all season.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has struggled for goals for the majority of his senior career at Goodison Park, and his header against Manchester City was pretty much a steal from Seamus Coleman, as the ball was all but over the line before his contact. Last year, whilst the 22-year-old scored just six goals in 35 league outings, Moise Kean bagged the same amount in only 13 league games.

Against the Citizens, the Italian saw just 16 minutes of action, but with Theo Walcott set for a spell on the sidelines, Silva will need a new source of pace up top.

Speed on the attack

Kean has played down the middle for the majority of his career so far, settling for the central spot at Juventus with Cristiano Ronaldo preferred down the left. At 19 years old, he has excelled in getting in front of the defenders with his speed and grabbing a goal with his finishing ability.

On his first league start for the Old Lady, the teenager epitomised these two main attributes by storming ahead of the Udinese defence on numerous occasions and subsequently scoring from two well-taken goals.

If Kean were to play in this role on a consistent basis, especially when Bernard and Richarlison are down both flanks, the former Juventus man could prove to be a handful for any defence by forming a devastatingly quick attack for the Toffees.

So far this season, Kean has only played 268 minutes in the Premier League, but has still provided one assist and averaged 1.3 shots per game - 0.2 less than he averaged last campaign where he scored six times. With Kean's pace and eagerness to get in behind, perhaps Silva is missing a trick playing him as the central striker instead of Calvert-Lewin.