BBC Sport pundit highly encouraged by Ellis Simms for Everton, expects Liverpool experience to really help development
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Ellis Simms’ surprise start for Everton in the Merseyside derby is going to “really help him” according to former club captain Kevin Campbell.
The 22-year-old was a surprise choice to lead the line in the 2-0 loss at Liverpool on 13 February in place of the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin, after being recalled from his loan at Sunderland in January and only receiving two brief substitute appearances from Frank Lampard.
But BBC Sport pundit Campbell was impressed with what he saw from the 22-year-old at Anfield and believes being thrown in at the deep end like that by Sean Dyche will be beneficial.
He exclusively told Goodison News: “That’s going to really help him. I’m telling you that’s going to really help him.
“When you’re a young player and you’ve gone on loan a couple of times, you watch the games and think, ‘Yeah, I’m ready. I train with the boys’. And then you get into a match situation you realise how different it is.
“Dealing with the pressure and handling it is important. I think he’d done pretty well in the Merseyside derby.
“As the game wore on I think Everton didn’t get enough support to him. As a striker that just saps your energy because you’re battling two centre-halves and the midfield.
“That box around you, that’s what you’ve got to contend with, and he didn’t have enough players around him.
“But I think he played because of his size and his hold up play, because [Neal] Maupay is shorter and if Everton need to bypass the midfield to beat Liverpool’s press you’re going to fancy Liverpool defenders to gobble those higher balls up all day long.
“Whereas Ellis Simms did really well holding balls up and flicking balls on, so I think that’s why he played.”
With forward options endlessly limited at Goodison Park since Richarlison was sold and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fitness issues set in it always felt like a matter of time before the youngster was called into action.
Maupay is the only senior striker at the club with extensive Premier League experience when Calvert-Lewin is out, and he has at times looked lost in an Everton shirt, especially when played up front on his own.
It would be unfair to expect fireworks from Simms immediately, but his spells at Hearts and then the Stadium of Light were encouraging and the opportunity is now there for him to grasp with the main man out once more.