Everton: Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill praises Isaac Price for quitting Goodison Park
Northern Ireland head coach Michael O’Neill has praised Isaac Price for the “hard” decision he took in leaving Everton for Standard Liege.
The midfielder penned a four-year deal with the Belgian side in June to bring an end to his 12-year stay with the Toffees.
Price made just three first-team appearances for Everton, compared to nine outings already for his new side in the early stages of this season.
O’Neill believes leaving Goodison Park has ultimately been beneficial for Price, who only turned 20 last month.
“I talked to Isaac about it and I thought it was a very positive decision at this stage of his career,” O’Neill told BBC Sport (12 October).
“Having been at a club from a very young age, Everton, it’s always hard to step away from that.
“I think we have seen it a lot with players who have been in the English game – they realise it is a difficult transition to move into first-team football in the Premier League.
“European football offers an opportunity and that is something he has taken with that step. I think he has done well in the period he has been there.”
All the best to him
Price cannot be blamed for leaving Everton in the summer, having been given just 44 minutes of Premier League football.
Given his age, some may feel he should have bided his time and waited for an opportunity to stake a claim for more regular action.
But it is hard to argue that his move to Standard Liege has not paid off, as he is already a fan favourite after scoring a late winner against Club Brugge last weekend.
The Athletic reported on 17 May that Everton were eager to agree fresh terms with Price prior to his contract expiring in the summer, but he made it clear that his future lied elsewhere.
Everton cannot be blamed for not using the youngster more, as a relegation scrap – as has been the case for the past couple of seasons – is not exactly the right environment to turn to academy graduates.
However, if Price goes on to have a successful career elsewhere, this will be one that we look back on as another that got away.
In other Everton news, a journalist has hit out at the “absolutely appalling” way the club is being run.