Everton and Burnley have seen an odd relationship form in recent years, with the two sharing relegation battles, players and managers before a recent compensation claim was touted too.
Naturally, the inception of their connection came during the 2021/22 campaign, in which the Toffees escaped the drop at the expense of the Clarets.
Then, less than a year later, Sean Dyche would be plucked from the free agents list and employed to then push the Toffees to safety again.
And yet, even before that saw Dwight McNeil and James Tarkowski both snagged from Turf Moor, with Everton truly ravaging the Lancashire outfit at every occasion.
The former of those two players has seemingly been commanding the most spotlight of late though, with his recent resurgence earning additional attention.
So, his second return to face Burnley in as many months was watched with interest.
Now, in Everton’s On The Road YouTube video, the exact manner of his welcome back has been outlined. Whilst first walking into Turf Moor, one staff member clearly notes: ‘Welcome back Dwight! Don’t forget you’re in different changing rooms’, drawing a chuckle out of Everton’s number seven.
How good has Dwight McNeil been for Everton?
Having suffered at the start of the season, nursing injuries and fitness issues that would not relent, it feels like Dyche is now finally getting the best out of his tireless wide man.
After all, with four goal contributions in his last four games, the 23-year-old is enjoying an unprecedented run of form which he will seek to maintain for the second half of the Premier League season.
Since joining under Frank Lampard, in a £20m move which did command scrutiny, the trickster has grown into a mainstay for the Merseyside outfit, even earning legendary comparisons.
In fact, he actually finished last term as their top scorer, with his seven strikes proving integral in their narrow survival.
Coming from Burnley to Everton marked a huge step up in stature and expectation, but he has seemingly handled the initial pressure to become a key cog in a setup that has earned ten wins from their last 14 in all competitions.
His welcome on Saturday offered just a glimpse into what seems like a sparkling personality, which has made him such a well-liked figure at the two clubs he has featured for.
He will hope to one day leave Everton with that same rapport, perhaps having led them to a place of success far away from the relegation battles he has endured thus far.
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