Jake O'Brien Tony Cascarino Everton
(Credit: Imago, talkSPORT)
Jonathan Burnett
Sat 8 March 2025 11:00, UK
Jake O’Brien’s breakthrough into the starting line-up at Everton has coincided with a surge in form from David Moyes’ side.
O’Brien’s equalising goal for Everton against Brentford on 26 February was a just reward for the 23-year-old’s displays since David Moyes returned to Goodison Park, having adopted a new role under the Scot.
Signed from Lyon last summer for £16.9million, O’Brien hardly got a look-in from Sean Dyche in his first months, with Jarrad Branthwaite, James Tarkowski and Michael Keane ahead of him in the pecking order.
However, since being switched from centre-back to right-back by Moyes following numerous injuries to Everton’s full-backs, O’Brien has gone from strength to strength and nailed down his place in the side.
Jake O'Brien
Everton signed Jake O’Brien from Lyon last summer [Credit: Everton Football Club on YouTube]
Tony Cascarino hails ‘handful’ Jake O’Brien at Everton
O’Brien is far from the only player thriving since Moyes replaced Dyche in the dugout in January, with Everton climbing to a season-high of 14th in the Premier League amid a seven-game unbeaten run.
Everton Manager Played Won Drawn Lost GD Points
Sean Dyche 19 3 8 8 –10 17
David Moyes 8 4 3 1 +6 15
David Moyes is just one win away from exceeding Sean Dyche’s points tally this season
MORE TOFFEES STORIES
However, given he’s playing in an all-new position and looking nothing like the modern day full-back, Tony Cascarino had nothing but praise for the Irishman and the impact he’s made since coming in.
Speaking on talkSPORT (8 March, 6:55am), Cascarino said: “The lad O’Brien at right-back, he’s a freak – handful, complete handful.
“He’s like Dan Burn on the other side, with those long legs stretching, and watching him handle [Kaoru] Mitoma – he’s come in, and that was a player that was nowhere near Sean Dyche’s first XI.
“Everton have improved, literally in a heartbeat – straight away, it’s been a complete change.”
David Moyes has turned Everton’s fortunes around (Credit: Imago)
Moyes and O’Brien deserving of Everton plaudits
Everton’s several injury crises this season have often forced the hands of both Dyche and Moyes, but it’s only the latter who has reaped the rewards from playing the likes of O’Brien in new, makeshift positions.
Dyche recieved praise from moving Dwight McNeil off the flank and into the more central number 10 role, but persistent injuries have prevented him from kicking on and he’s yet to feature under Moyes.
O’Brien, however, has been able to kick on since being thrust into the side as an attack-minded full-back, with all six-foot-six of him hulking down the right wing being a sight to behold for Everton’s opponents.
With Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman both aging and out of contract at season’s end, and Nathan Patterson perennially injured, the right-back spot is O’Brien’s to lose as Everton look ahead to their future at Bramley-Moore Dock.
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