David Moyes will have been overjoyed with all of his players in Everton’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon, a win which took the Toffees up to fifth.
But one man in particular had a quietly good game for Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, despite the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry taking the plaudits.
Everton’s attacking form has burst into life over the past few weeks, but it’s been their defence that has, down the years at the very least, kept them in the Premier League.
And Irish star Jake O’Brien has been a main part of that in David Moyes’ tenure at the club, impressing massively on Merseyside since his move from Lyon.
Everton star Jake O'Brien in the Premier League vs Tottenham
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
David Moyes evidently trusts Jake O’Brien at Everton with consistent starts
Although James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite have been Everton’s first-choice centre-backs for the past three years, O’Brien represents a solid backup option for the duo.
Tarkowski has been Everton’s leader at the back ever since his move from Burnley in 2022, missing just five Premier League games since July of that year, and he’s been the stand-in captain when Seamus Coleman hasn’t been available for selection.
Branthwaite, meanwhile, is the up-and-coming centre-back of English football and although he’s been marred by injuries in recent months, the Carlisle-born starlet is a left-footed centre-back, which is a real commodity in the Premier League.
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But O’Brien has been a real safe option for David Moyes ever since the start of his second spell on Merseyside.
O’Brien started all but two games under Moyes in the Premier League last season, as well as starting in all but two games in the league this season.
Naturally a centre-back, he’s been utilised on the right-hand side of the defence throughout the campaign, but his centre-back cameo against Bournemouth in midweek shows that he has the credentials to feature incredibly for Moyes in an array of positions.
Jake O’Brien has what it takes to be an Everton mainstay for many years to come
Everton’s need for O’Brien to fill in at right-back has been a blessing for him in terms of development and game time.
And, in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, he recorded his first-ever assist in the Premier League, showing his presence going forwards.
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At the age of just 24, O’Brien is still yet to come into his peak as a Premier League player, and that consistent run of game time has proven he is more than good enough at this level.
The Irishman would have ideally wanted to play at centre-back but having played more frequently than Branthwaite since he joined, there is a genuine conversation to be had that he’s showing his worth more than any Everton defender at present.
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