Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has opened up about the tough time he has experienced over the past year.
The forward was in outstanding form with the Toffees over a year ago under the management of Carlo Ancelotti.
However, the Italian's departure coupled with several injury issues have meant that Calvert-Lewin has been unable to show his best qualities.
After scoring in a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace at the weekend, he spoke about his struggles.
“It has been very tough, the most difficult 12 months of my career so far, because I am a football player and all I want to do is play football so when you get that taken away from you, I appreciate there are much worse things going on in the world, but that is my experience of what I do," he told reporters.
“I play football so to not be able to do that, to be sidelined and then come back and be sidelined again it has been very very frustrating.
“The key has been to keep believing in myself and keep remembering those good moments of when I am going to be stepping out at Goodison Park and scoring goals.
“Today was a massive bonus and relief you could say. I pat myself on the back because if I ever stopped believing I might not have been able to do that today."