(Credit: Breaking Media/Manh Tung)

Daniel Davis

Sun 10 May 2026 8:26, UK

As the clock ticked slowly toward the final whistle, Tim Iroegbunam couldn’t carry on.

Having delivered a lung-bursting, high-energy performance to help Everton take a 3-2 lead against Manchester City into the dying seconds, the midfielder went down with cramp after crashing into an advertising hoarding and conceding a last-gasp corner.

The six minutes of stoppage time indicated had already been played when the midfielder was replaced by Harrison Armstrong, but still, play continued. Then, with one of the final kicks of the game, Jeremy Doku curled home a stunner to force a share of the spoils.

It was a crying shame that Iroegbunam did not find himself on the winning team. He was deservedly given the man of the match award for his display at Hill Dickinson Stadium, having underlined his newfound importance to both David Moyes and his team-mates.

Iroegbunam will likely be just as crucial against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, with the Toffees needing to collect all three points to keep their European dream alive.

Tim Iroegbunam now unlikely Everton hero

His outing against City last time out was the latest of a string of eye-catching showings which have thrust him into a surprisingly prominent role under Moyes. He remains far from the finished product, but he brings with him qualities that make him a superb asset.

Iroegbunam will know he must continue to work on improving his positional discipline, as his lapses in concentration and rushes of blood to the head saw him tumble out of contention earlier in the campaign. But on almost every other front, he has taken giant strides.

After a dismal display in a 4-1 thumping at the hands of Newcastle in November, the 22-year-old was rightly dragged off at half-time. However, just a few days later, he looked like a man reborn in the 1-0 win over Bournemouth. From that point, he has not looked back.

He is a strong runner, both with and without the ball, and has helped lead Everton up the pitch with his good dribbling ability. That trait was especially important against City, but the nature of the late fightback somewhat overshadowed Iroegbunam’s heroics.

According to Sofascore, he won six tackles, more than any player from either side. He also won nine duels, with just Jeremy Doku registering more. His nine defensive contributions, meanwhile, were bettered only by Abdukodir Khusanov (11) and Michael Keane (10).

While he would have wanted to complete more than 12 of his 19 passes (a 63 per cent hit rate), he was able to provide grit and strength to the heart of the hosts’ midfield, somewhat making up for Idrissa Gueye’s absence. Moyes would have been delighted.

It is no wonder, then, that the Scot spoke so highly of the former Aston Villa man in the build-up to Sunday’s crucial showdown against Crystal Palace.

“I think Tim’s improved, he’s come along. There are other parts of his game we want to improve but I think that he’s helped us with his type,” he told the Liverpool Echo.

“He’s quick around the pitch, very aggressive when he needs to be. He’s another great boy to have in character-wise, great character, so we’re happy to have him.”

However, Moyes is determined to help Iroegbunam continue to develop. He is competing with Gueye and James Garner for spots, a difficult task for even the most seasoned player, and has often slipped out of the starting XI when the first-choice duo are fit.

His passing is a notable weakness. He is prone to lapses in possession that have cost his side, forcing them to race back to defend counter-attacks. Moyes is known to value structure above everything, so it will fall to Iroegbunam to work on this shortcoming.

Still, there are more than enough signs to suggest that he will have a very bright future indeed at the club. While he may be one of the first to be dropped when Moyes’ best XI are available, he is also one of his preferred impact players off the bench. That speaks volumes.

Iroegbunam braced for decisive summer

However, Iroegbunam’s future on Merseyside is not as secure as it should be.

Lazio had wanted to sign him during the winter transfer window, but the mooted £8.6million deal did not come to fruition. That price tag would also have represented a loss on the £9m Everton splashed out for him in June 2024, so it was never likely to be sanctioned.

As it stands, his contract will run down at the end of next season, meaning Moyes will need to make a decision sooner rather than later on whether he will feature prominently in his plans for the future. If he doesn’t, he will likely be allowed to move on.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.