Dwight McNeil is back in training - although it is not immediately clear where he will fit in to the team under the new manager
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Sean Dyche was always cautious at Everton. But with Dwight McNeil, perhaps a little less so.
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The midfielder was clearly a crucial part of the former manager's grand plan. Not only would he work hard and do a defensive job for the team - two non-negotiables of the Dyche coaching mindset - but his set-piece delivery would often help the Blues get on the right side of fine margins.
It meant that while Dyche was often patient when it came to player recoveries, at times it felt like he found a way to get McNeil on the pitch quickly after injury layoffs. And then, even when he was tired or playing poorly, keep him on.
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McNeil has not been seen for Everton since the 4-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on December. The injury he picked up that night was a reaggravation of the one he left the pitch with against Fulham, seven days after which Dyche then played McNeil against Southampton, catching many by surprise.
Nevertheless, with new owners in situ and a new manager in the dugout, it's fair to say plenty has happened since his last outing.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Dyche did not win another game after McNeil's injury. And while he's been sidelined, new manager David Moyes has had to find different ways to attack without the 'paintbrush' left foot of the 25-year-old.
After defeat in Moyes' first Premier League game in charge, Everton have gone nine games unbeaten in the top flight. In terms of style, it's been evolution rather than revolution. Still, there have been significant tactical changes that will make McNeil's reintegration intriguing. Perhaps even challenging.
Iliman Ndiaye, who has returned to training this week after his own injury layoff, has made the position on the left his own. Carlos Alcaraz also did an impressive job there against West Ham United recently. McNeil, despite a brief impressive stint as a no. 10 earlier this season, has played his best football out on that wing too.
So when everyone is fit, where does he fit in? Given how it compromised Everton defensively, it would be a surprise to see Moyes give McNeil a go centrally again. So with Jesper Lindstrom and Jack Harrison underperforming, perhaps another change of position could follow. What about the right flank?
In theory it should work. McNeil has an excellent left foot and given the chance to dart inside he could be dangerous. Think his first goal against Crystal Palace earlier this season. Or indeed his goal against Everton for Burnley at Goodison Park during the Covid-19 years. Arjen-Robben-esque.
For some reason McNeil has never quite looked comfortable stationed on that side though. The winger has never been a fluid mover and perhaps lacks the agility to make those angled runs inside.
But it's also an experiment that has never been given time to potentially blossom. After all, under Dyche it always felt like a scrap at Everton. Every point was so valuable. And if things did get tough, McNeil on the left wing always felt like a comfort blanket for Dyche.
In the winger's last game, he played there, with Ndiaye shunted out to the right and Abdoulaye Doucoure back behind the centre-forward.
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Moyes may have found a way to get Everton going removed from that blueprint, but he will still want to get McNeil on the pitch. One area of his team's play the Blues boss has not been happy with is set pieces and he could be a game-changer again in that department for sure.
As for positionally? The upcoming weeks could give McNeil the chance to get used to the nuances of being a right midfielder. When to move infield, when to hold width, when to shoot and when to play in Jake O'Brien on the overlap.
If it doesn't work after a couple of games, Moyes can persist, safe in the knowledge of Everton's safety and that Harrison and Lindstrom have let their opportunities slip by. Because the new current boss has earned himself something precious that his predecessor never really had. Time.