The winger also expressed determination to force his way into David Moyes' plans
Tyler Dibling in possession of the ball during the Premier League match between Everton and Brentford at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Tyler Dibling in possession of the ball during the Premier League match between Everton and Brentford at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Tyler Dibling has admitted he is enduring a “tough” debut season at Everton but expressed determination to fight his way into the first team.
The attacking midfielder said it had been hard playing so few matches, particularly after gaining significant experience in the Premier League with relegated Southampton last season.
Despite his disappointment, he insisted he is targeting greater involvement this season and his thoughts extend beyond the campaign and to what he can do with Everton in the future.
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Dibling signed for Everton at the end of the summer transfer window, joining from Southampton in an initial £35m deal. The 20-year-old was the club’s most expensive signing of a summer rebuild and strengthened an area - right wing - in which David Moyes was struggling for depth.
He has made just 17 appearances since his arrival, though, and of those only six were starts. He has not yet scored for Everton and, while he impressed in a win at Nottingham Forest just after Christmas - one of few serious opportunities he has been given - is still searching for a breakthrough moment.
Opening up on his time on Merseyside to date while with the England Under-21s, Dibling said: “It’s been tough [at club level]. When I come with England, it’s good to get minutes and play in these types of games to know that when I go back to Everton, I can really push on at the end of the season and into the next.
“I had a good season last year with Southampton and it’s been harder for me this season with not playing as many games, but it’s all experience at the end of the day.”
Moyes appears willing to show patience over his development but has hinted at some frustration over their first eight months together. The lack of minutes for Dibling can partly be explained by the success of others, though. The Blues boss was buoyed by the way Iliman Ndiaye operated with potency on the right wing over the first half of the season and has inspired several good displays in that position from Dwight McNeil in recent games.
At Finch Farm, Dibling has been encouraged to study the work of Champions League winners Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, both adept at cutting inside from the right, and to learn from some of the players around him.
He said he had been doing just that in an interview with England during the latest U21s camp, in which Lee Carsley’s side drew with Andorra and defeated Moldova. Dibling came off the bench against Andorra and started the home win over Moldova.
He explained: “I have definitely learned from people like Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish, because they’re such good players. When you see them every day, you can take things from their game. I need to keep pushing myself, keep working hard at training, and I’m going to go into next season ready to go, mentally and physically.”