‘Done really well’ – Exclusive: Kevin Campbell hails Virginia after Everton chance
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell was encouraged by what he saw from Joao Virginia as he made his first FA Cup start for Everton against Manchester City.
Virginia, 21, was handed his first FA Cup start after making his league debut in the recent 2-1 loss to Burnley as Jordan Pickford sustained an injury in the first half of that game.
Campbell hailed Virginia for doing a decent job under difficult circumstances against a very talented Manchester City side.
“I thought he was great, if I am honest,” Campbell exclusively told Goodison News.
“He did not have a chance with either of the goals and he made a couple of really good saves as well.
“Fair play to him, he has done really well coming into the side in difficult circumstances after Pickford and Olsen got injured.”
You’ve got to hand it to Virginia, he had a pretty solid game against arguably the best side in the world at the moment.
Campbell has spoken on numerous occasions about how Everton don’t have a first and second choice goalkeeper.
Rather a 1A in Pickford and 1B in Robin Olsen.
It now seems that we now have another capable goalkeeper in our ranks and this can only be a good thing.
If any of our keepers make consistent mistakes (we’re looking at you Jordan) then there are now two keepers breathing down their neck looking to take the starting spot.
Healthy competition breeds improvement and quality in a squad and the presence of better keepers can only motivate Pickford to do better.
However, Virginia is clearly talented and needs to be playing so perhaps a loan move should be sorted out for him next season.
We can’t let a talent sit on the bench when he could be out developing but all the signs are there that we have a gem on our hands.
In other Everton news, one of our players has reportedly been sent home from international duty.