Everton have now been told who their fastest player within the squad is.
Once an accolade boasted by Anthony Gordon, there are plenty of potential candidates to now fulfil such a role.
One might point towards Jarrad Branthwaite’s long strides that help him pick up pace, whilst Arnaut Danjuma, Jack Harrison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all can be lightning-quick when spearheading attacks.
However, the real answer is actually quite surprising.
So who is Everton’s supposed fastest player? We take a closer look…
Who is Everton’s fastest player?
Whilst the Toffees have often been criticised in the past for a lack of speed in attack, under Sean Dyche that has changed dramatically.
The emphasis he places on verticality makes it so the team breaks with immediate pace and fury, seeking to soak up pressure in order to attack the opposition’s goal in as few passes as possible. To uphold that kind of system there must be a certain degree of speed in their progression.
Fortunately, whilst he does have that in both his defence and attack, the midfield could be accused of lacking that raw pace to dominate in a key area.
Well, Sky Sports have sought to debunk that claim, detailing a table showcasing the Premier League’s seven fastest players this season.
Whilst the presence of Micky van de Ven at the top and Newcastle United’s Gordon in sixth is not surprising, the fact that Amadou Onana sneaks in at seventh is shocking. There is actually just a 0.03 difference in top speed between the former Everton winger and their Belgian enforcer.
However, when thinking back to when he is forced to stretch his long legs to quell an opposition attack, then it becomes a more realistic notion.
Amadou Onana is a surprise star again
For all the harsh criticism that Onana is often subject to, this statistic only further cements his status as one of Everton’s most surprising, and important players.
After all, his speed and fleet-footedness in the engine room are invaluable, with the 22-year-old’s unparalleled ability to race back to make last-ditch tackles having saved many a goal this campaign alone.
Whilst sometimes lambasted for drifting in and out of games, which is fair, when involved there are few as influential.
Especially when delving into the figures, which show how he ranks joint-highest within Dyche’s squad for pass accuracy (84%), third for accurate long balls per game (2.3) and third for tackles per game (2.6), via Sofascore.
A ball-winning monster with the quality and class to then progress the side, fans will miss him when he’s gone.
And given the unrelenting interest that has persisted throughout the last two transfer windows, this summer could very well mark his last.
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox
