Everton midfielder Merlin Rohl is clearly well aware of what David Moyes wants him to improve before he becomes a starter.
Merlin Rohl arrived at Everton on transfer deadline day in an initial loan deal that will become permanent if the Toffees stay up.
David Moyes has liked the look of Rohl in training, but so far, he is yet to start the 23-year-old in the Premier League.
As Rohl awaits his full debut for the club, he’s been working tirelessly behind the scenes at Finch Farm on one key detail.
Everton midfielder Merlin Rohl.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Merlin Rohl knows he must work on his speed to become a starter for Everton.
Rohl has admitted he’s been adapting to the Premier League’s intensity as it’s a totally different style to the Bundesliga.
The Germany under-21 international also added that he’s been working on his ‘speed’, so clearly Moyes wants to see more from him physically.
“I think I have a lot of room for situations where I can show my speed and yeah, I’m working on that – to get my potential on the pitch,” Rohl explained.
At the moment, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, James Garner and Idrissa Gueye are all ahead of him in the pecking order, and they all possess a great engine and are able to cover ground quickly.
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So, until Moyes believes Rohl is able to do that crucial side of the game, he’ll likely remain a substitute for now.
“I wanted a slightly different profile in midfield to what we had – he's different to what we've got and he can play quite a few roles."
David Moyes on trying to sign Merlin Rohl in January, and why he went back for him in the summer ⤵️https://t.co/MBxyylsKbA
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Merlin Rohl may have to wait until December to get his chance
At the moment, Moyes seems pretty settled with his midfield, so it may take until December for Rohl to get a consistent run of games.
That’s when Idrissa Gana Gueye departs for the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, so the Scotsman will be forced to rethink his line-up.
Gueye could be away from the 21st of December all the way through until the final on the 18th of January
Rohl could operate in a midfield pivot with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall during that period, or perhaps it’d be Tim Iroegbunam, as he’s probably a bit tighter defensively.
Moyes has even suggested Rohl could play as a right-back, so that’s something to keep an eye on as well.