Since joining the club, Sean Dyche has improved nearly every player he has touched at Everton.
From Jarrad Branthwaite to Vitaliy Mykolenko, even the most down-and-out stars have enjoyed a new lease of life under the former Burnley boss.
But few compare to Abdoulaye Doucoure, who was halfway out the exit door before his appointment. He is now one of the Premier League’s most prolific midfielders, with his importance to the side unparalleled.
However, despite these regular miracles, there has been one nut too tough to crack.
Ashley Young has struggled to establish himself as a star signing since his summer transfer, and arguably started to show his age at the start of the campaign.
Well, things might now actually be looking up for the veteran wide man…
Why did Everton sign Ashley Young?
Simply put, the Toffees signed the 38-year-old ace as a stopgap.
Having just enjoyed a solid season with Aston Villa, the club where he truly first made a name for himself in the Premier League, it did mark a shrewd acquisition for Dyche.
Especially given the well-documented financial constraints placed upon the club, which ultimately led to two alleged financial breaches alongside a January transfer window where they signed nobody.
His cover and experience were expected to be vital across what promised to be another long and arduous campaign, but in the end he has proven far from reliable.
Dyche’s insistence on starting him at full-back backfired spectacularly at the start of the season, and only since his return from injury has he recaptured any semblance of form.
But, that renewed importance is owed to a key tactical change that was actually forced upon the 52-year-old manager.
How has Ashley Young improved in recent games?
With injuries having ravaged the squad, Ben Godfrey earned a recall to the starting lineup at right-back.
Then, when Young was back and ready to start, he could hardly displace the 26-year-old, who had starred since his return to the side.
Instead, Dyche opted to play the former Manchester United man just ahead of Godfrey, allowing the two to work in tandem as a partnership focused on locking down the right flank.
It is no surprise that his statistics have shone since, and his defensive lapses in judgement are no longer being woefully exposed. Moving him further up the pitch has limited the opportunity to produce another ‘diabolical’ moment like he did at Villa Park, to which Andy Hinchcliffe lambasted him live on Sky Sports Main Event (20 August, 3.40 pm).
The £40k-a-week ace is averaging a 7.1 rating across the two games since his return, a vast increase from his average rating of 6.62.
Not only that, but against Fulham Young managed two key passes and two tackles, another rise from his average of 1.0 and 1.5 respectively.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, he has become a key asset for Everton after once being so unreliable.
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