**David Moyes has backed Jake O’Brien to step up at centre-back for Everton.**
O’Brien continues to operate largely on the right side of defence for Moyes’s side ahead of established options Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson.
But the Republic of Ireland international could soon be utilised in his preferred position as a result of Jarrad Branthwaite’s prolonged absence from action.
Branthwaite is facing more time out after undergoing surgery to correct a troublesome hamstring injury that sidelined him since the start of the season.
Michael Keane has stepped into the void alongside James Tarkowski to form the Blues’ central pairing but Moyes feels O’Brien is also more than capable.
He said: “We gave him a run at centre-back at the end of last season.
“He’s had a couple of games and he did very well. He is a centre-back, but he is doing a very good job for us at right-back in the main, he needs to keep his levels up, like we all do.
“I think versatility is a big part of football now. A lot of players are playing in different positions.
“I’m calling Jake a young centre-back and he’s maybe not that young now.
“But to be a young centre-back quite often you have to make your debut and get started as a full-back – I certainly did as a player as well.
“But I think that’s part of it. As it is, I think having Jarrad and Tarky here is hard to nudge away and Keano’s played very well in the games.
“So, he’ll need to keep fighting for his own position where he’s playing at the moment but if we’ve got any problems at centre-back, we know we’ve got him.”
Everton’s defence suffered a fresh blow ahead of Sunday’s visit of Tottenham after Moyes confirmed that Patterson has suffered a fresh injury setback.
The Scottish right-back is yet to feature this season with his sole involvement coming in the under-21 side’s EFL Trophy hammering by Bradford City.
“Patto has plantar fascia tear in his foot which he picked up in an under-21 game,” confirmed Moyes.
“It is probably going to keep him out for a couple of weeks.
“He’s also had a little issue with his hernia so we are going to get it tidied up while he’s out with his planta fascia.”