Former Everton defender Michael Ball believes that Andros Townsend and Dominic Calvert-Lewin can form a good partnership for the Toffees in the upcoming season.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin started last season in fine form, scoring in each of Everton’s first five Premier League matches, including a hat-trick in the club’s second match against West Bromwich Albion.

The striker ended the season with 21 goals in all competitions and won the club’s Player of the Season award for his fine form.

Townsend signed a two-year deal at Goodison Park and is reunited with new Everton manager Rafa Benitez, who he had previously played under at Newcastle United.

Ball believes that Calvert-Lewin and new signing Andros Townsend can form a good partnership, telling Football FanCast: “Andros with his stats at Crystal Palace, yes they played a different system but his personal stats of getting the balls in the box early you would hope would be perfect for whoever is up front for Everton, whether its DCL or whoever comes in.

“DCL early on last season was thriving on crosses, early crosses coming in and he was scoring headers and getting across the defenders with one touch finishes early on last season and that seemed to dwindle as the season went on. So, with Andros outside, DCL will know what he will be trying to do, getting the ball in the box very, very early and hopefully that will get DCL into double figures again next season.”

Townsend has 48 goals and 72 assists throughout his career and so could prove to be vital for Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring goals next season. In his 16 Premier League goals last season, Calvert-Lewin scored seven with his head, showing that if he can get the service from out wide, he will be an aerial threat in the penalty area.