James Tarkowski was speaking after Everton grabbed a last gasp equaliser to draw 1-1 with Brighton on Saturday
James Tarkowski reflected on the futures of several Everton players after the 1-1 draw with Brighton
James Tarkowski reflected on the futures of several Everton players after the 1-1 draw with Brighton(Image: Getty Images)
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James Tarkowski has hailed Jack Grealish, Harrison Armstrong and Beto, Everton’s saviour at Brighton & Hove Albion, after question marks have hung over all of the trio’s future in January.
The Blues’ 1-1 draw at the Amex Stadium was the first game after manager David Moyes revealed Grealish probably won’t play again for the club in his current loan spell as he’s set to require surgery for a stress fracture on his foot. Speaking about the blow of losing the first £100million English footballer, Tarkowski said: “I’m gutted for him, I really am.
“He’s had a tough couple of years where he’s not played loads. He’s just got back playing week in, week out. He’s enjoying his football and enjoying being here.
“We loved having him around the place. I’m so disappointed for him so wish him all the best, and hopefully he can get himself back on the pitch.”
In terms of the Brummie star still making a potential permanent transfer to Hill Dickinson Stadium this summer, the 33-year-old added: “We’ll just have to see what happens. For someone of his talent and ability, we’d obviously love to have him.”
Someone who Moyes has now taken a decision on is Armstrong. The midfielder was recalled early from his season long loan at Preston North End on New Year’s Day and has subsequently played in all six of Everton’s matches in January, starting the last five.
Paul Heckingbottom, manager of the Deepdale-based outfit, had reiterated that he expected the 19-year-old to be sent back to rejoin his side to continue his football education in the Championship, but with the West Derby prospect already looking at home in the Premier League, his Glaswegian gaffer has now decided that he will stay put.
Tarkowski has been following Armstrong’s progress for longer than most and said: “He’s been brilliant since he has come back.
“I’ve seen Harrison since he was 15. I had my coaching badges watching him.
“I probably had eight or nine sessions with him, but I knew the club were rating him highly at that time. I’ve seen him break through and come into the first team for quite a long period of time now, training with us and being around us and I think his spell at Preston has brought him on even more.
“I’ve seen him from a very young age and his development has been unbelievable, really. He’s got a bright future ahead of him and he did terrific today.
“He’s good at taking information. He can play that role (on the right) because he’s good at understanding the game and listening and taking instructions well.
“I thought he was brilliant. He’s come back and he’s a terrific player.”
For the second consecutive January transfer window, speculation has been rife about Beto being potentially sold but he ended the month with a perfect present to himself on his 28th birthday by firing in Everton’s last gasp equaliser against Fabian Hurzeler’s side and celebrating with the jubilant travelling supporters in front of him.
Tarkowski said: “People have said continuously about Beto, that he works hard at his game all the time.
“He is open for feedback, open for a bit of criticism. He just works his hardest to improve and get better, so it’s great for him to get a moment like that.”
Someone else who visibly enjoyed the goal was Moyes, who was shown a yellow card for running onto the pitch and indulging in an arm-waving jig of delight. However, Tarkowski admitted that the dreaded VAR check tempered his own celebrations in that crucial moment.
He said: “The boss has been around the game a long time. I think he’s making the most of it and enjoying it, all the moments he can.
“When you get a late goal like that, it feels amazing. Usually, I’d celebrate a bit more if I weren’t sheepish and running back to my own half.
“I didn’t really celebrate the goal because I thought I might have been given offside. But whenever it’s a moment like that, rather than run around celebrating, I’ll just jog back to my own half.
“I’ve seen the boss enjoying his celebrations and I was thinking: ‘I hope I don’t get given offside because he won’t be happy with me.’
“I thought we played really well in the second half, especially since Brighton have really kicked on in the last few years, it’s probably the most possession and chances we’ve had here. We’ve had some really good results but always probably sat a lot deeper and not created a whole lot apart from the 5-1 a few years ago.
“But in terms of the overall game, I thought we did really well. The boss was really pleased and so am I.”
Tarkowski who when asked his official height by this correspondent, insisted that he’s “6ft 3in with big studs on,” found himself in the unusual position of being the shortest member of Everton’s defence at Brighton & Hove Albion and admitted it was something of a new experience for him.
He said: “I think Keano is probably a bit taller than me, he got a long neck. The other two giants aren’t they?
“It must be the first time in history that two full-backs have been taller than the two centre-backs!
“Myko went down injured, so we had to adjust. Four centre-halves went across the back four, but Jarrad and Jake are more than capable of playing high.
“Jake has proven that time to time and Jarrad’s technically so good anyway, so Jarrad could play anywhere.
“Obviously, size and presence in both boxes are massive. I thought we had loads of first contacts in their box and it’s hard for them to pick who they’re going to mark.
“If they’ve picked to mark me, I’m the smallest of the four of us. That means that there’s someone else free elsewhere.
“As I said, Jake O’Brien has played right-back for the last year or so and Jarrad is probably the most capable out of all of us at playing full-back because his technique is so good. Left foot, right foot, he can travel with the ball and dribble, so it’s no issue for us.”