Michael Ball wowed by ‘relentless’ James Garner, says he must stay in Everton starting XI
James Garner should remain in the Everton starting lineup after his excellent start to the season, according to Michael Ball.
Writing in his column for the Liverpool Echo (10 October), Ball heaped praise on the 22-year-old, singling out his “relentless” pressing and stamina.
The former Manchester United man has featured in every match for the Toffees in all competitions this season scoring two goals, including the opener in their League Cup victory over Aston Villa.
Ball wrote: “In the past, we have seen plenty of players be handed a chance, but they have then failed to make the right impression. This was not the case here.
“James played with the type of aggression that we want to see from an Everton midfielder. His pressing was relentless, and he didn’t stop all game.
“My big hope for James now is that he gets a run of games in the middle because he certainly deserves the chance to continue there after his display on Saturday.”
Key player
Garner has emerged as one of Sean Dyche’s most dependable players this season. While their form is starting to head in the right direction, there is certainly room for improvement across the board, so Garner has not been perfect by any means.
However, he has provided key moments and his exceptional work rate will be needed by Dyche if Everton want to build a gap between themselves and the relegation zone. The opening goal against Bournemouth proves that hard work and effective pressing can reap rewards, and Garner was rewarded with his first Premier League goal since April.
The Toffees have struggled to get the ball in the back of the net, with misfiring strikers failing to convert good chances. Per UnderStat, Everton has the fifth-highest xG in the league, above Manchester City, Arsenal and only 0.03xG below leaders Tottenham.
Much of this is down to Garner’s ability to create chances for teammates, Per FBRef, Garner created 0.58 goal-creating actions per 90, the second highest in the squad behind Jack Harrison, whose lack of minutes boosts his rate.
He has also registered 24 shot-creating actions, third in the squad and just four behind Amdaou Onana in top spot. Last season, injuries and manager changes made Garner’s debut season tough. Now, he is one of the first names on the teamsheet, and for good reason.
In other Everton news, Peter Reid has reacted to a “frustrating” player injury development.