Sean Dyche discusses Lewis Dobbin plans with youngster ‘laying down a marker’ at Everton
Sean Dyche said “we’ll see” when discussing what happens next for Lewis Dobbin after he has been “laying down a marker” during pre-season with Everton.
Dobbin, who spent last season out on loan with Derby County, has started two matches in front of his manager, including as a surprise addition in the first team’s friendly with Bolton Wanderers, during which the forward was one of the brightest players on the pitch and should have had a goal and an assist by half-time.
The 20-year-old, who signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Toffees in January 2022, was also involved in the fixture with Stoke City on Saturday 29 July.
It remains to be seen whether Dobbin gets a crack in the first team in the upcoming season or heads back out on loan but Dyche was quick to pile on the praise.
“He’s done very well. I’m very pleased with him and his application – all the young lads actually have been first class,” Dyche said, as reported by the Liverpool Echo (31 July).
“We’ll see (what next) but he’s certainly laying down a marker to say ‘I’m ready and want to be part of it’, that’s for sure.”
Bright future
Dobbin has clearly benefited from his loan last season and has come back a player who has looked mature and established beyond his years during the club’s pre-season preparations.
During his loan spell in League One with Derby he scored three goals and provided four assists in 43 league appearances. As well as this, he also featured in the EFL Cup where he made one assist in three games and scored once in his three Football League Trophy fixtures.
A loan spell is often key for a young player’s development and it appears as if this has certainly been the case with Dobbin, although he has been playing at a level ahead of his age for a while now.
In the 2021-22 season, when he was just 18/19 years of age, he was playing for the club’s Under-21s in Premier League Two and playing well, scoring six times and providing two assists in 18 matches.
With Everton’s troubles in front of goal well documented, the emergence of Dobbin could be crucial.
In other Everton news, Brighton have joined the Toffees in the race for a European forward.