Everton ran out 4-0 winners over Dundee in their first pre-season friendly, and it was interesting to note the performance of Merlin Rohl.
David Moyes’ squad got minutes in the tank up at Dens Park, with the hosts rather making life easy for the Toffees.
Most of the goals were real gifts, but it wasn’t so much about the result and mainly all about increasing match sharpness.
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Moyes was able to make a raft of changes throughout, and plenty of youngsters also got chances to impress, which was good to see.
Of course heading into this game, Everton still had not signed a new right-back, which is a priority position.
Instead, Moyes fielded Merlin Rohl at right-back – and the German did well.
Everton must step up right-back search Merlin Rohl deputises
Everton fans have wanted to see someone else at right-back, with Jake O’Brien having struggled there towards the end of last season.
Right-back is not his natural position, and many have been waiting for him to get a chance in the middle alongside Jarrad Branthwaite.
Against Dundee, O’Brien did play in the middle which was good to see.
But Moyes again put a square peg in a round hole, moving Rohl to right-back.
And actually, the German did well.
We’ve seen Rohl play as a winger and know he can be competent out wide. But in a more defensive role he looked solid, and looked to get forward with his athleticism.
But there is an argument to say that it is actually not ideal that Rohl had a good game.
Because it perhaps only increases the likelihood of Moyes playing him there again, and using him as a new option at right-back.
The right-back market is expensive at the moment, so one wonders if Moyes would be open to trying to convert Rohl. It would be no surprise if he was.
But this should not be a consideration.
Everton need a specialist and a natural, and ideally someone who can come in an immediately hit the ground running.
Yes, Rohl has great mobility and athleticism, which might make him someone capable of filling in from time to time.
But Moyes must resist the temptation to start using German there regularly. Especially as his traits could be very useful in the midfield – at the moment, no one really carries the ball forward with pace and power.
That’s why it’s important that The Friedkin Group and the recruitment team start making headway in the search for a new right-back in the coming days, before Rohl starts getting too much involvement in the position during pre-season.
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