Dwight McNeil heaps praise on Everton boss Frank Lampard for keeping faith in him
Everton summer signing Dwight Mcneil has heaped praise on Frank Lampard for keeping faith in him after the winger grabbed a sensational goal against Southampton on Saturday afternoon.
McNeil’s marvellous half-volley sealed the three points for the Blues, ending his own goal drought and igniting his career on Merseyside.
The winger hailed the coaching staff and Lampard for keeping faith in him, something he says gave him “extra belief” going into the fixture at St Marys.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, McNeil admitted he knew he had to stay calm and relaxed going into the game and not let his current hit and miss form influence his performance.
“Going into the game I just needed to stay calm and relaxed and enjoy it,” he said.
“It helps as well when you have the manager and the players around that believe in you. It gives you that extra belief to believe in yourself so credit to them for believing in me.”
Oozing.
McNeil wasn’t the blockbuster signing Toffees craved, but the former Burnley man finally seems to be oozing confidence, something his sublime goal will have helped with.
Striking the winner and maintaining your team’s upwards trajectory is vital and McNeil doing this for Lampard’s team only bodes well for his future at Goodison Park.
His goals will be vital this campaign, Saturday’s win was the first time Lampard’s side have scored more than one goal this season.
The winger’s commitment to the team and work rate had never been questioned by the Blues, they just wanted his output to improve if he was to become a regular starter.
Saturday’s goal for McNeil will hopefully be the building block to push on from and he can start banging them in on the regular for Lampard.
McNeil can shine at Everton, and maybe just maybe become a key cog in the club’s near future.