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Everton's Romelu Lukaku is always on his toes - Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin praised Romelu Lukaku after he became the first Everton player since Gary Lineker to score more than 20 league goals in a season.

Lukaku scored two late goals against Hull in a 4-0 win at Goodison Park amid speculation over his future after he said he would not sign the new Everton contract on offer.

He now has 21 Premier League goals for the season, equalling Bob Latchford's 1977-78 record of scoring in seven successive home matches.

"He is so powerful and nine times out of 10 you back him to score when he is through on goal and he showed that to grab two goals in the 90th minute," Calvert-Lewin told PA Sport.

"That is what differentiates a top player from not a top player.

"He found it tough for 90 minutes and in the last five he has scored two and that shows he is always on his toes and ready to go."

Lukaku's late intervention took some of the spotlight away from Calvert-Lewin, whose first goal for the club in only his sixth appearance set Everton on their way to victory.

It was the perfect way to mark his first start since early January after injury and he said: "I am over the moon. It has felt like an eternity to get back.

"It is hard to describe, really. I've run it through my head over and over again growing up as a kid so to finally do it I kind of got lost to be honest."

Everton are now level on points with fifth-placed Arsenal, opening up the prospect of a late charge for Champions League qualification.

"We have the momentum behind us at the moment," Calvert-Lewin added.

"You play to finish as high in the table as you can but we have to focus on the next game and then the rest will take care of itself."

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