Jack Grealish's drop off in goal contributions does not equate to a dip in form insists former Everton winger Pat Nevin
A drop off in numbers for Jack Grealish isn’t a concern for ex-Everton winger Pat Nevin.
Grealish joined the Blues on a season-long loan from Manchester City in the summer and was named Premier League Player of the Month for the first time in his career for August after providing four assists in his first two starts. The first £100million English footballer then followed that up by breaking his scoring duck for the club by netting a dramatic first-ever stoppage time winner at Hill Dickinson Stadium to complete a 2-1 comeback victory over Crystal Palace October 5.
However, Grealish failed to produce a goal contribution in between the two final international breaks of the calendar year having been ineligible for the first game in the block against his parent club at the Etihad Stadium but then returning to face Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland and Fulham. The 30-year-old hit the post at the Stadium of Light while also putting a chance on a plate for Thierno Barry at the back post only for the striker to miss a sitter, but regardless of ‘what ifs,’ Nevin, who played 150 games for Everton between 1988-92, scoring 21 goals after signing from Chelsea for £925,000, is not worried.
The Glaswegian told CasinoHawks: “Numbers don’t trouble me too much because they’re too stark and they’re not realistic a lot of the time. He’s been marked a lot more closely now and remember the types of games you’re playing in as well.
“If Jack Grealish has been closed down and marked and somebody’s pulling over from the midfield to close down his area because he's getting so much notice, if you're Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall you’re going ‘hello, I’m having that’ because he’s got extra space and Iliman Ndiaye, he’s got space.
“I think it’s a trio for Everton just now. So, there will be periods when it’s Dewsbury-Hall, when it’s Ndiaye and when it’s Grealish.
“Remember, they’ve got great backup in those positions as well. Tyler Dibling is still to come and make an effect, and I think he will do, and Charly Alcaraz as well. But I can’t see any reason why Everton fans would say anything other than they’re loving what Jack’s doing.
“He’s having to work hard in that position, a similar position I played my entire career. There are some times where you’re playing for a team and I know you think I’m an attacking wide player, but really I’m a left-back today, or a right-back today, because that’s what I have to do.
“I have to cover, I have to work hard and Jack’s attitude has been absolutely brilliant, absolutely fantastic. So, dipping numbers, yeah, dipping form, not convinced about that yet.”
Content Image
Content Image