(Credit: Imago)

Jacob Raw

Fri 20 March 2026 20:10, UK

Everton‘s James Garner received his maiden England call-up on Friday, but I can’t help but feel slightly sorry for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

By all means, Garner deserves the chance to impress, but the team news update all but confirms that Dewsbury-Hall has no way into Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad this summer.

As an Evertonian, you always want to see the players who don your club’s badge playing for their countries at the highest level, and Dewsbury-Hall has been unfortunate this time around.

Garner will most likely do everyone proud, but the spotlight is on the midfielder, is keeping Dewsbury-Hall in that bracket of underrated players.

Dewsbury-Hall has been excellent for the Blues this season, and his stats from the Premier League campaign prove that Tuchel may have missed another Everton star off his 35-man list.

These stats prove Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall deserved call-up

Garner has probably been Everton’s best player this season, if I had to pick one, but Dewsbury-Hall’s influence in the attacking third is what has David Moyes’ side pushing for a spot in Europe.

Tuchel even FaceTimed Garner, which shows just how highly the England boss rates the former Manchester United man.

But just look at the graphic below. Dewsbury-Hall has excelled in attack, defence, transitions, you name it, he can do it.

Seven goal contributions for the Premier League season and counting, in the last couple of months, the Blues have started to see the best of the ex-Chelsea star.

The 27-year-old has chipped in with completing 68 per cent of defensive contributions for his own individual game, along with an unexpected 93 per cent of aerial duels.

He creates 1.27 chances per game, and all his stats prove is that Tuchel may be missing out on an all-action midfielder that could be needed in specific match scenarios.

Why Everton will now benefit from Dewsbury-Hall snub

Footballers are competitors, it’s in their nature, and Dewsbury-Hall won’t give up until the final whistle of the season.

We’ve seen Jack Grealish send a clear message to Tuchel this campaign before his crushing foot injury, and Dewsbury-Hall may now follow suit.

The versatile midfielder has a point to prove more than ever, and the Toffees will surely only benefit from his determination.

There’s a long way to go yet in Everton’s season, and they need every slight advantage they can get in the run-in for what could be a truly special campaign under Moyes.