Tim Iroegbunam shared his thoughts after bursting into the Everton first team for the final games of the season
Tim Iroegbunam during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park. Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images
Tim Iroegbunam during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park. Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images
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Everton players are preparing for Sunday's game with Sunderland aware of the importance of providing supporters with a positive display.
The Blues will entertain the Black Cats in their final home game of the season (3pm kick-off). It is a match they need to win to have any hope of qualifying for Europe - an ambition that suffered a heavy blow when they failed to hold on to the lead at Crystal Palace at the weekend.
The 2-2 draw represented the fourth consecutive game in which David Moyes’ side had failed to hold on to a valuable result. Two of those have been at home, with Liverpool scoring a 100th minute winner at Hill Dickinson Stadium and Manchester City levelling seven minutes into added time.
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A player who has emerged with credit amid the frustration of recent matches is Tim Iroegbunam. The central midfielder combined off the bench with Tyrique George to help Everton force their way back into the contest at West Ham United, who won it in time added on through Callum Wilson to win the game for the Hammers in time added on.
An injury to Idrissa Gueye has since provided Iroegbunam with consecutive starts and the 22-year-old earned the man-of-the-match accolade for the first of them, against Man City, before impressing again against Palace.
After the Eagles match, Iroegbunam told the club: “Obviously, the more you play, the more confidence you get, so I'm just happy to give it all and do my best.
“Because Gana’s been injured, I've had an opportunity, and when I get those opportunities, I just try to do my best and bring a different side to my game so that I can affect the match how I like to do: be aggressive, win the ball back, carry the ball forward.
“With the performance against City, I feel like just the more you play, you get more confidence. I feel that's the thing with everyone.
“Hopefully, I just keep stepping on and keep playing well and keep working hard so that I can give it all for this team and do what I can do.”
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Blues boss Moyes has been impressed with the former Aston Villa player over recent games, hailing his improvement and praising his character.
He added: “I think he's an interesting young player. It could go either way for him, if he doesn't get enough time then we need to look at it differently, but at the moment I like what I'm seeing from him.”
For Iroegbunam, the focus is now on a strong finish to the campaign.
He said: “You can tell how much the fans love the club. Every time we play at home, the fans are there, getting behind us.
“I think it's important for us to give them a performance. So, yes, it’s definitely an important game.”