Kevin Thelwell, Director of Football at Everton. Credit: Imago

Kevin Thelwell lauded for 'heavyweight' Everton signing who starred v Brighton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

Published on:

27 Jan 2025, 8:10 am

Henry Winter has lauded Kevin Thelwell for the signing of Jake O'Brien after he starred in the 1-0 Everton win over Brighton on Saturday.

With Seamus Coleman sidelined and Nathan Patterson working towards full fitness, David Moyes has been forced to start the 23-year-old centre-back out of position in recent weeks.

The decision clearly paid off against the Seagulls on 25 January, keeping Kaoru Mitoma quiet for the majority of the Premier League clash at the Amex Stadium.

Writing via his Goal Posts blog [27 January], Winter said: "David Moyes played the tall, imposing centre-back Jake O’Brien there and he did a superb job keeping Kaoru Mitoma quiet.

"O’Brien’s quick, strong, times tackles well and uses the ball sensibly. O’Brien was signed from Lyon for £16m last summer. Now given a chance by David Moyes, the 23-year-old is looking a heavyweight piece of recruitment by Kevin Thelwell."

Jake O'Brien finally impresses in Everton win

Despite splashing £16million on the central defender during the summer, O'Brien was rarely seen under Sean Dyche, even when Jarrad Branthwaite was sidelined for weeks.

While Branthwaite and James Tarkowski are still the trusted centre-back partnership, the Republic of Ireland international has now proven himself as an adequate replacement.

The Toffees have now won back-to-back games against Brighton and Tottenham, which has seen the club move seven points above the relegation zone. It's an incredible start under Moyes.

Dyche looked to be sleepwalking the team into a relegation dogfight, leaving The Friedkin Group no other choice but to sack him, though the timing of the decision has been disputed.

Jake O'Brien joined Everton in the summer [Credit: Imago]

However, with the Blues now firing on all cylinders under Moyes, that will quickly be forgotten if they can rise further and further up the table and away from the dropzone.

And O'Brien will be loving the change of manager after finally being given the opportunity to prove himself on the pitch, not just wasting his talent on the bench.

In other Everton news, scouts were sent to Porto v Olympiacos to watch a 25-year-old defender.

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Everton

Brighton & Hove Albion

Henry Winter

Jake O’Brien