Everton man Andros Townsend reveals what Benitez expects from his wingers this season
New Everton signing Andros Townsend has revealed that Rafael Benitez wants his wingers to get into more goalscoring positions this season.
Speaking to the Toffees’ official website, the 30-year-old winger revealed that the Spaniard wants to see more goal contributions from Townsend and his other wingers this season.
While Townsend was with Benitez at Newcastle, he scored three goals in ten games, and it is clear that the Spaniard wants to see the former Crystal Palace man replicate that sort of goalscoring ratio at Goodison Park.
Townsend said: “The manager has worked tirelessly with me, at Newcastle and since I came here, on getting in the box more often.
“I have been working my whole career on getting in the box and when I am there finding the right areas – and he [Benitez] wants me inside the box.
“The manager likes to work one-on-one with his players.
“He took us, wingers, to the side on Friday and told us exactly that [get in the penalty area] – and the positions be in.”
Townsend and the other wingers to score more goals?
Last season you could argue that Everton had an overreliance on Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored 16 Premier League goals; the next highest was Richarlison on seven [WhoScored].
So it would be fantastic if the likes of the Brazilian and Townsend could get up towards double figures this season.
However, while he was at Palace, Townsend only scored 16 goals 185 in games for the Eagles, so there is going to have to be some major improvement from him this year on the goalscoring front.
Demarai Gray is another player who has not scored that many goals in the Premier League, so it is good to hear that Benitez wants his wingers to get into the box more.
Hopefully, we see the rewards from these conversations this season, and Calvert-Lewin can have some support in the goalscoring charts.
In other Everton news, the club have had a bid rejected for one of their top targets.
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