Exclusive: Campbell delivers verdict on ‘Dogged’ Everton defender Godfrey
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell has sung the praises of Everton defender Ben Godfrey after the summer signing impressed in the club’s recent win over Chelsea.
Godfrey joined the Toffees from Norwich in the summer and has been thrown into the deep end with Everton’s defensive injury crisis this season.
Campbell believes that Godfrey was excellent in the recent win against Chelsea and delivered his verdict on the value of the versatile defender.
Speaking to Goodison News, Campbell said, “I think he’s a defender who likes to defend. He’s tough, he’s determined and he’s dogged.
“When you have a player like that, who can play multiple positions at the back and plays equally well wherever you put him, that is a good signing and cheap money.
“To keep a clean sheet against Chelsea is very difficult with the amount of money they’ve spent and the quality they’ve got. I thought Godfrey and the defence played pretty well and Everton deserved to win the game.”
Godfrey is a natural centre back but he has rarely played there while wearing the blue shirt of Everton.
The 22-year-old has been deployed as a wing-back on both sides of the pitch following injuries to Seamus Coleman and Lucas Digne.
These injuries have almost been a blessing for Godfrey as he has been able to show his quality regularly in the Premier League.
His talent is starting to be noticed as the deal to bring Godfrey to Goodison Park this summer increasingly looks like a brilliant piece of business.
With Michael Keane also impressing this season, it would be interesting to see how a defensive partnership of Keane and Godfrey would work once Everton’s defence is fully fit.
Yerry Mina has made numerous errors this season and plenty of Toffees fans would surely want to see the Colombian dropped so that Godfrey can retain his place in the side once this injury crisis is over.
In other Everton news, here is our predicted line up for the Toffees’ weekend game against Arsenal.