Everton dilemma for Frank Lampard over Demarai’s Gray area
Form has been indifferent for Everton since the arrival of Frank Lampard on transfer deadline day but the Toffees are still not out of the woods yet.
Back-to-back home wins against Brentford (in the FA Cup) and Leeds United have been compounded by defeats on the road against Newcastle United and Southampton.
Now Lampard faces his toughest task yet at Goodison Park as the Premier League leaders Manchester City head to Merseyside for the Saturday tea-time kick-off.
A big decision for the former Chelsea icon to make will be what to do with Demarai Gray as the 25-year-old returns from injury [FourFourTwo].
The Englishman played on the left-hand side of a front three in the first two games of Lampard’s tenure but he has since switched to a 4-4-2 and that raises questions over where Gray fits in.
His best performances this season under previous boss Rafael Benitez came as a number 10 where he could float around the attacking areas and find space wherever it may be.
As an orthodox left midfielder, though, he will be more regimented in where he is placed and that might negatively affect his game.
Anthony Gordon’s rapid rise to stardom should see him keep his place regardless of Gray’s fitness but the question is whether the Englishman gets in ahead of Alex Iwobi, who started at Southampton last week.
The Nigerian hasn’t pulled up any trees since arriving at Finch Farm but he could get another chance over Gray which isn’t what Lampard should be doing.
Gray has found a new lease of life at Everton and even in a position where he hasn’t quite hit his best, he needs to be in the starting 11 if he is fit and ready to do so.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are battling to sign this exciting player from La Liga who has a £62.5million release clause.
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