Everton boss Sean Dyche suddenly has a ‘lovely problem’ to solve – Sky Sports pundit
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’ late strike at Chelsea has given Everton boss Sean Dyche a “lovely problem” to choose between the striker and Demarai Gray, says Kevin Campbell.
The 22-year-old stepped off the bench to score his first goal for the club and secure a precious point in the 89th minute at Stamford Bridge on 18 March, to finally provide a central striking alternative to the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
With the Neal Maupay experiment largely over the manager had at last turned to top scorer Gray up front from the Nottingham Forest draw onwards, and Sky Sports pundit Campbell is intrigued to see who gets the nod going forward with both dangerous options.
On whether it was an oversight by Dyche not to turn to the tricky winger sooner Campbell exclusively told Goodison News: “Not really. When you play Demarai Gray up there you’re trying to utilise his speed and his dribbling ability.
“But he’s not a striker. You’re trying to utilise him to stretch the pitch.
“Now, the fact that Ellis Simms has come in in his second game off the bench and scored a really good goal, it gives the manager food for thought.
“But Demarai Gray has his part to play and probably Ellis Simms does as well, maybe from the bench, maybe not.
“It’s something that we have to wait and see, but what a lovely problem for Sean Dyche to have.”
Gray was unfortunate to be dropped to the bench with Dyche arrived and elevated former Burnley charge Dwight McNeil to the starting XI, as the 26-year-old has arguably been the pick of the attacking options this season, from an admittedly thin field.
With Anthony Gordon sold to Newcastle and Calvert-Lewin once again out injured the ex-Leicester man would seem like the next man up, and once he was brought back in as a false-9 Everton reeled off five goals in three games.
But Simms does fit the line-leading role better and should be full of confidence having broken his duck, so a Toffees boss, at long last, has a positive issue to resolve in attack on Monday 3 April against Tottenham.