Chris Beesley examines the redemption of Dwight McNeil in his talking point from Everton's 2-0 win over Burnley
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Dwight McNeil is making the most of his second opportunity to be an Everton player, winning over even some of his harshest critics who were seemingly unwilling to give him a second chance.
Had Crystal Palace gone through with their agreement to sign McNeil on loan with an obligation to buy on transfer deadline day of the winter window then he would now of course be starting a new chapter in his career in south London. Instead, he’s well and truly playing himself back into the Blues fold.
When the Rochdale-born player’s proposed move to Selhurst Park collapsed - with David Moyes subsequently insisting: “I can tell you 100% it was nothing to do with Everton Football Club that’s for sure” - McNeil’s partner Megan Sharpley took to social media to question the integrity of the football industry.
Writing on Instagram, she said: “Tonight, and the last 48 hours, have broken my heart to see how the football world you love so much can be so cruel to you. To have something promised to you, you have been dragged along an emotional rollercoaster, and to be toyed with until the final minute.
“To have four-and-a-half years of your life promised to you, travelling, medicals, agreements made… promises made. To have prepared to move your entire life, our lives 100 of miles away in the space of a few hours.
“For it to be torn away from you at the last second, with absolutely no explanation. Going from everything to radio silence, no phone call, no communication and be left, broken hearted with nothing but confusion, has hurt more than I can say.”
Her heartfelt words provided a peek behind the curtain regarding the fickle fates that shape professional footballers in what, at Premier League level, is a hugely well-paid job but an ephemeral career in which they are commodities that can sometimes be treated like pieces of meat and the potential repercussions of such actions for players and their loved ones.
While manager Moyes maintained he treats mental health issues with the utmost respect, the Glaswegian gaffer also pointed out that such occurrences are occupational hazards and “without thinking too deep, you might come up with a hundred players where deals have fallen through, they’ve not got to clubs or their big move hasn’t happened.”
What the 62-year-old also insisted, though, was that having spoken to the player a couple of times in the week after the failed transfer, that “Dwight is fine,” and “there’s no problem at all.”
To be fair to Moyes, he is a man of his word and while McNeil was out of the squad for the next two matches, having been on the bench for the game against Manchester United, he has started the last two games, helping Everton to back-to-back wins.
The 26-year-old played a telling role in both of those victories, having a hand in both of the Blues’ first-half goals against Newcastle United at St James’ Park, before producing his best display of the season to date in the 2-0 defeat of his previous club Burnley.
Everton’s decisive second goal against the Clarets, which enabled the loyal but long-suffering home patrons at Hill Dickinson Stadium to let out a collective sigh of relief, was all down to McNeil.
Here was the man lambasted by many Evertonians for his lacklustre display at home to Leeds United when seemingly shying away from a 50/50 challenge and jogging back at a rather leisurely pace for the visitors’ goal did not make great viewing.
But in contrast, McNeil was excellent against Scott Parker’s side and it was his determination to maintain possession following a one-two with Beto while under pressure from Hannibal that kept the ball alive for the hosts to double their lead, thanks to his cross-field pass to Iliman Ndiaye, who in turn fed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to score.
Perhaps it was just as well that Blues fans didn’t get the chance to air their views on McNeil against Leeds as he was hooked at half-time. However, this time around Moyes ensured his player was rewarded in a public arena as his 86th-minute substitution gave him the platform for a standing ovation from some 50,000 supporters.
This correspondent got the chance to speak to McNeil in an exclusive interview in, of all places, a high school gym in New Jersey during Everton’s pre-season trip to the USA for the Premier League Summer Series last July.
Displaying an increased thoughtfulness that experience had given him, he explained how he now felt a greater expectation of being a ‘senior player’, and we discussed a number of topics including his preferred position; his new role in the squad; why this was a huge season for him; a major reset in his approach; his new stadium excitement and switching positions with Ndiaye and Charly Alcaraz.
Within the next month, a further three attacking midfielders arrived at the club in the shape of Dewsbury-Hall and Tyler Dibling for a combined £60million plus the first £100million English footballer Jack Grealish on loan.
It’s safe to say 2025/26 hasn’t panned out as McNeil would have imagined it but there’s another throwback to Everton’s time in New Jersey last summer that can help provide some inspiration.
Thousands of spectators access the MetLife Stadium, where the Blues played their first game of the tour, and the venue for this year’s World Cup final, via the American Dream mall.
While the title of this retail colossus might be a glib marketing ploy, in its purest form, the phrase ‘American Dream’ refers to being given a second chance, the opportunity to rise from the bottom to the top through your own talent and determination.
That’s what is now happening with McNeil. Maybe long-term, he’s not going to be one of Everton’s new-look team, but for now at least, he’s been brought back into the fold on merit by Moyes and playing his way back into favour with the fanbase.
That should also serve as an inspiration and a lesson to those he is currently keeping out of the team.