The ECHO speaks exclusively to former Everton captain Phil Jagielka about Iliman Ndiaye and Jarrad Branthwaite
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Iliman Ndiaye of Everton gestures to the fans during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Crystal Palace FC at Goodison Park on September 28, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Iliman Ndiaye has quickly became a fan favourite at Everton
(Image: Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
One thing is for certain, Everton supporters have taken to Iliman Ndiaye. But a question still remains: Just where is his best position?
For manager Sean Dyche, for the time being at least, the summer signing is best operating off the flanks. Many Blues fans, however, feel Ndiaye needs to be played through the middle as a No.10.
The calls for that to happen have quietened in recent weeks, with Everton boss Dyche's decision to restore the tried-and-trusted Abdoulaye Doucoure to the role behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin paying dividends.
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After the dreadful 4-0 defeat at Manchester United, the Blues have responded positively, winning a crucial match 4-0 at home to Wolves before producing a heroic defensive display to draw 0-0 at title-challenging Arsenal.
In both of those games, Ndiaye operated out wide and is likely to do so again when in-form Chelsea visit Goodison Park on Sunday.
But where does former Everton captain Phil Jagielka, who knows the silky Senegal international well, reckon his old team-mate should play?
"Possibly long term he'd get into that No.10 position but I think you've got to look at the way Sean sets his team out and I think for Ili's own sake, it's potentially a little bit easier to come in off the wing, with a few less bodies around," Jagielka exclusively told the ECHO.
"Sean has played Dwight McNeil in there, with his little bit more quality, and he's gone back to Doucoure, who works his socks off and gets goals as well, so there's different options there, between all three of them.
"But I definitely see Iliman eventually playing as an attacking midfielder, as a No.10, but I think he'll enjoy playing in off the left purely because the responsibilities aren't quite as high as if you're playing in the middle of the pitch."
Jagielka joined the Blues in the summer of 2007 for £4m from Sheffield United. It proved money very well spent with the defender going on to to make 385 appearances for the club, scoring 19 goals including a famous derby equaliser against Liverpool at Anfield, before he returned to Bramall Lane in the summer of 2019.
It was back at Sheffield United that the 40-capped England international encountered a then 19-year-old Ndiaye, who made just one appearance for the Blades in the Premier League before exploding into life following their relegation to the Championship.
His form brought about a dream move to boyhood club Marseille in the summer 2023. But the 24-year-old stayed just one season in France before signing for Everton in a £17m deal in July.
Ndiaye has made a positive impression on Merseyside, scoring three goals in 17 games, but Jagielka believes there is more to come.
"The one thing with Ili is that he’s got all the ability in the world," said Jagielka, who will be a pundit for Amazon Prime's live coverage of the Blues' Boxing Day trip to Manchester City. "He's grown up now, he's more mature, but it was his end product back then.
"But as long as he continues to score a couple more goals and get more assists, Everton have got a fantastic player. He's very creative, he's very comfortable on the ball, and he's a very good attacking option.
"But I'm sure the manager will be desperate to get a few more goals from him - which he probably wants from all his attackers at the moment!
"But Ili has settled in really well and the Evertonians have really taken to him, which I'm sure he'll appreciate because when he went to France, I don't think it worked out as well as he would have hoped. He was loved at Sheff U and he seem like he's getting pretty loved at Everton."
Only basement boys Southampton (11) have scored fewer goals than the Blues (14) in the Premier League so far this season.
But at the other end of the pitch, Dyche is getting it right again, with his side having kept clean sheets in four of their last five matches and six in their previous nine.
The return of Jarrad Branthwaite has helped with that. The highly-rated centre-back was the subject of two well-publicised bids from Manchester United in the summer but he was unable to let his football do the talking with injury keeping the England international sidelined until September before a further problem ruled him out for another month.
The 22-year-old is now fully fit and Jagielka has no doubt how important Branthwaite is to Everton. He said: "Jarrad went to PSV on loan and did really well. They were keen to keep him and you could see why. He then had a fantastic season with Everton last year but he didn't start this season as well as he would have liked. He was injured to begin with and then he was trying to get himself fit after a couple of niggles.
"This season will be a test of him. He's finding his feet, he's finding his fitness, but the team look better with him in there - and that's massive testament to him. He's become one of the first names on the team sheet.
"There was some speculation about him getting a transfer but for me he's at the right place, he's performing well, and he will be a big part of why Everton will have a successful season."
Phil Jagielka will be working as a pundit on Prime’s coverage of Man City vs. Everton on December 26. Prime will exclusively show every Premier League match on Boxing Day with over 10 hours of football available to fans at no extra cost to their Prime membership.