£17m Everton defender admits he used to score goals for fun as a striker

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Everton may not be the most stunning side to watch in the Premier League, but few can deny their commitment to the cause.

That has been perfectly exhibited through the desire and effort levels consistently shown over a really tough last few years, laden with relegation threat.

Last campaign in particular showcased this better than ever, as in the face of two separate points deductions, they still achieved Premier League safety with some ease.

Even if this campaign has not quite gone to plan, again, the playing squad has once again been faultless when quantifying their effort levels.

Everton’s Jake O’Brien makes startling positional revelation

What proves this more than anything is how so many players have been willing to move positions for the betterment of the club, with injuries leaving huge vacancies all across the first team.

Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson’s injury problems have forced James Garner into right-back, with Abdoulaye Doucoure then dropping far deeper than he has in recent years to play defensive midfield.

Even Dwight McNeil has been shifted into the number ten role, to great success, whilst Ashley Young has remained as versatile as ever.

However, it’s Jake O’Brien who is the latest to reveal another role he might be able to play, should Everton manager Sean Dyche get desperate.

When speaking on his Instagram, he answered a series of quick-fire questions, including what his earliest football memory was.

He made the revelation with his reply: ‘My earliest football memory was just as I suppose scoring goals as a striker for my local team.’

Why is Sean Dyche not playing Jake O’Brien?

It’s quite ironic that, despite centre-back being another position of turmoil for Everton this season, Dyche has remained staunch in his position on O’Brien.

That is, despite the 23-year-old having joined in the summer for £17m, thought to be as an understudy for Jarrad Branthwaite.

And yet, despite his persisting injuries, O’Brien has remained on the sidelines.

There are many theories as to why Dyche would continue to snub the former Lyon man, but few really make sense.

Perhaps he is not performing well enough in training, or has simply not yet done enough to prove himself to the manager, but many fans have been left baffled as to why Michael Keane continues to play ahead of him.

It could be a niggling fitness issue, but the fact this has not been disclosed suggests otherwise.

Regardless, it’s a really strange situation for O’Brien, who likely expected far more than just two appearances in the EFL Cup and one cameo off the bench in the Premier League.