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Kevin Malone is considering purchasing Everton

Tue 8 October 2024 16:10, UK

Everton must address their ongoing fullback crisis that is causing a serious unbalance to their side and hampering the development of James Garner.

Sean Dyche’s side picked up their fifth point of the season with a hard-fought goalless draw with Newcastle United last Saturday (5 October).

Garner, a central midfielder by trade, once again filled in at right-back with Nathan Patterson and Seamus Coleman unavailable, while Ashley Young filled in at left-back with Vitaliy Mykolenko unavailable.

In fairness, Garner put in a fantastic performance and was key in helping the Toffees take a decent result into the international break.

However, Garner is not a right back and Everton’s failure to efficiently address their long-term defensive injury crisis in the summer could prove detrimental in more ways than one.

Dyche was quick to praise Garner’s performance against the Magpies and told Liverpool World: “You know, he looked like a player who has played there a lot, but he hasn’t, and his energy looks like it’s coming back.

“He had a spell where just couldn’t quite find that edge to himself, but he’s looking good and stronger. He’s enjoying his football again and I thought he delivered a very good performance today.”

James Garner needs to be utilised in midfield

Whilst praise is certainly warranted for the way Garner kept Harvey Barnes at bay for their encounter against Newcastle, playing him at right-back cannot be a long-term solution for Everton.

It needs to be addressed with the arrival of a full-back in January otherwise you are limiting the ability Garner can and has consistently demonstrated in a midfield position.

That added to the fact that Young seems to be Everton’s only constant at the back, as soon as you identify Garner as a defensive option, you are a man down in midfield and with such a paper-thin squad, Everton can’t afford that.

Still only 23 years old, Garner still has plenty of potential to grow into a solid Premier League-level player. However, for him to reach that ability, he needs to be utilised in his natural position consistently.

In other Everton news, Jeff Stelling has joked that Everton will receive a points deduction after Manchester City’s legal win over the Premier League.

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