In Focus: Everton's bargain buy is clearing the Gray skies on Merseyside

A dark cloud over Goodison Park has lifted — and Demarai Gray is bringing bright skies to the blue half of Merseyside.

An underwhelming summer in the transfer market and the unpopular decision to replace Carlo Ancelotti with former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez had dampened the mood at Everton.

But any discontent has been quelled by seven points from three matches, with bargain basement buy Gray playing a key part in that success.

Ahead of Everton’s clash with Burnley tonight, we turn the spotlight on why the £1.7million signing from Bayer Leverkusen is finally fulfilling his potential with the Toffees.

An electric start

There was some uncertainty about where Gray would slot into Benitez’s system.

He had struggled to nail down a starting berth during his last stint in the Premier League — a five-year spell with Leicester — and there was already plenty of competition for the wide positions at Goodison Park.

But Benitez made his intention to play Gray clear right from the start of pre-season, with the winger scoring in July’s Florida Cup victory over Millonarios.

The 25-year-old has started all three of the Everton's Premier League games this season, in which they are yet to lose.

Gray has been deployed on the left-hand side of a three-man supporting cast behind talisman Dominic Calvert-Lewin and has already scored two goals in just 247 minutes of action.

Target practice

Benitez has implemented a similar style of play to the one he used while in charge of Newcastle.

The Toffees averaged 12 crosses per game in the Premier League last season. But in their opening victory over Southampton this term, that number rose to 17 — with Gray at the forefront of that bombardment into the box.

And with the towering Calvert-Lewin and new signing Salomon Rondon patrolling opposition six-yard boxes, Gray will surely see his assist tally soar as the campaign goes on.

The winger has completed 28.6% of his crosses for Everton, which is a tremendous improvement from his time at Leicester, when he averaged just 18%.

More to come

During the international break, Gray revealed the impact Benitez has already had on his game.

He said: "I just feel the belief that Rafa has. He analyses every detail and gives really clear instructions, so I feel I have already improved.

"There is a lot to come from us as attacking players. There is chemistry and there is a threat — we look dangerous and have goals in us."

His assessment appears correct — the Toffees have scored at least two goals in every game so far, the fourth most per 90 minutes (2.33) in the division.

Player of the Month

Gray’s terrific start for Everton has been capped off by the news of his nomination for the Premier League’s August Player of the Month award.

It is a feat the winger failed to achieve during his entire time at Leicester.

Gray’s two league goals also mean he has already bagged half of his previous best top-flight tally, when he found the net four times in 2018-19.

Townsend's advocacy

Some Everton supporters were critical of Gray’s signing, with the move representing a stark contrast from the high-profile arrivals of the previous summer.

But Andros Townsend — who also made the move to Merseyside in July — has given Gray his full backing to shine for Benitez’s side.

He said: "He is a special, special talent. At £1.7m, it looks like probably the bargain of the season."

If Everton's Toffees new No11 can keep up the same high standards, he will surely go down in history as one of the best value additions to have pulled on a blue shirt.