Rafa Benitez: Andros Townsend is one of the hardest workers in the Premier League
Everton manager Rafa Benitez has reunited with English winger Andros Townsend at Goodison Park, and has been impressed with what he has seen so far.
The 30-year-old played a starring role as the Toffees secured the Florida Cup at the expense of Colombian side Millonarios yesterday (Sunday) on their pre-season tour of the U.S.
Townsend joined Everton as a free agent after leaving Crystal Palace last month, and Benitez has revealed that he has been left impressed to know that he is one of the hardest workers in the English top-flight statistically.
The Spaniard told evertontv: “He’s someone who I know from my time at Newcastle. He’s a player with quality.
“I was checking his fitness stats, too, and he was one of the best players in the Premier League in terms of work-rate.
“We have a player who can give us something more because he has the desire and he’s in a position that the team needed. I think he can do well for us.”
Massive addition
Townsend is not a marquee signing, but is a shrewd addition to the Toffees squad, and snapping him up could be one of the bargain transfers of the summer.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United forward has already told Benitez he wants to force his way into the English national team having last played for the Three Lions in 2016 [Everton TV], and we have got a man on a mission at Goodison Park.
Townsend wants to prove Palace and his detractors wrong, and such an inspired man is a dangerous player on the pitch.
His defensive work-rate and attacking abilities could see Benitez deploy him in a wing-back role if need be, and the veteran is definitely eyeing a permanent place in the Spaniard’s starting XI.
The fact that Townsend can use both feet well and deliver perfect crosses into the opponents’ box should see him play regularly for us, and he could be the man to bring out the best in England international striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
He is ready to give his fellow wingers a run for the money, and we are here for it.
In other Everton news, Toffees ace off to join squad in US as Benitez yet to make transfer decision.
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