Isaac Price speaks out over ‘naughty’ incident during Everton tour of Australia
Isaac Price has already made quite the impression on Everton manager Frank Lampard and he continued that during their tour of Australia.
The teenager played both matches down under and was in the thick of the action for much of it while looking effortlessly calm in the midst of the chaos.
A tough task against Celtic proved his biggest test of the trip and he very nearly saw red for a challenge on Hoops midfielder Matt O’Riley but was only shown a yellow.
It only being a friendly may have played a part in the decision and now Price has spoken out about that incident and what he was thinking at the time.
“I’ve had a few comments that I could have been sent off for that,” Price said to the Liverpool Echo. “A booking maybe, but it weren’t a red. First I looked up [at the screen], and then I heard everyone go ooohhh, and thought it could have been a naughty one.”
Battle
The Northern Irishman knows what is required to beat a Celtic team and he was willing to lay it all on the line to do so and Lampard won’t see that as a bad thing whatsoever.
He may want to calm the 19-year-old down just a touch for a game which ultimately does not matter in terms of a result but the fight and passion is exactly what he wants to see.
That has kind of been lacking for Everton this season despite some decent individual ability from the likes of Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gana Gueye so perhaps it is time for Price to get his chance.
Certainly in games where it could be a more scrappy affair, having someone relentless like the teenager in the middle of the park, buzzing around at the heels of every opponent could be a blessing for Everton.
Not every player possesses that terrier-like industry so Lampard can count himself very lucky to have one in the ranks, ready to go when his chance arrives.