When Everton signed Jake O’Brien in a £17m deal from Lyon, it was met with great fanfare.
Jake O’Brien was brought in to seemingly replace James Tarkowski and partner Jarrad Branthwaite, however, Sean Dyche barely gave him a kick.
It wasn’t until David Moyes came in January that O’Brien started a Premier League game, and he’s not looked back since.
Even Kevin De Bruyne has praised O’Brien in recent months, with the towering defender impressing in a new position at right-back.
Now, the Republic of Ireland international has just come out and admitted that he still finds one instruction Moyes gives him really ‘weird’.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Jake O’Brien shares what David Moyes asks him to do which he finds ‘weird’
O’Brien appeared on Still Ryan’s YouTube channel and discussed at length how he’s found his first year at Everton.
The interviewer asked about his new role at right-back and what he makes of it, and the 23-year-old admitted he finds it ‘weird’ overlapping but enjoys it.
“It’s different, I mean when he asked me to do it, I kind of just…obviously I wouldn’t say no like… but it was different and I knew I’d kind of like drop into a three at the back,” O’Brien explained.
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“But then I think in the first week that didn’t really happen as much, I was kinda of, as you said, bombing up the wing and it was weird for me.
“I’m 6ft 6 running up doing overlaps and stuff. I remember the first time I was running, doing an overlap and in my head I’m like, ‘what am I doing’.”
O’Brien added: “But no I enjoy it, I get to go higher up the pitch and attack more, show my pace.”
O’Brien expected to move back to central defence next season
It’s understood O’Brien’s future at Everton very much remains at centre-back, with a right full-back set to join this summer transfer window.
“The club will look at both full-back positions this summer, but I’m not sure it impacts (Jake) O’Brien that much,” Patrick Boyland explained via The Athletic.
“Moyes has said O’Brien’s medium and long-term future is in the centre of defence, the position he has played in throughout his career.”
Everton are looking at Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Lamptey’s potential arrival would allow O’Brien to return to his favoured role.