Everton: Sean Dyche takes James Garner to next level as top-four Premier League statistic emerges
Sean Dyche has done his best to steady the ship at Everton, with the club enduring a turbulent time on and off the pitch over recent years.
Their latest blow came in the form of a 10-point deduction, handed out by the Premier League after the Toffees were found guilty of breaching the competition’s profit and sustainability rules.
But amid the chaos, Dyche and his players have remained focused on the task at hand, which right now is to edge away from the Premier League relegation zone.
And one player that has really developed under the tutelage of Dyche is young midfielder James Garner. The 22-year-old is seemingly one of the first names on the teamsheet for the Toffees, having featured heavily this season with 17 appearances in all competitions.
Garner has featured in all 14 of his club’s Premier League matches this season, where he is among the leading players when it comes to best ground duel win rates.
As per WhoScored (5 December), Garner sits fourth in the list of those to have contested 100+ duels, with the Toffees ace boasting a figure of 58.7%.
Top of the pile is Manchester City star Jeremy Doku (65.1%), with Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma (59.6%) in second and Wolves man Nelson Semedo (59%) in third.
And completing the top five is Fulham ace Joao Palhinha (58.5%), with all five players crucial for their respective managers.
Their drive and determination undoubtedly make them firm favourites for their respective clubs, with Garner enjoying life at Goodison Park since his switch from Manchester United, where he made just seven appearances.
In other Everton news, Alan Shearer was stunned by “mad” Toffees footage from their match with Nottingham Forest live on BBC.