Sean Dyche could take Tim Iroegbunam to the next level when injured £15m Everton star returns

Add as preferred source on Google

Everton’s summer business was intelligent and incisive, having tied the bulk of it up before deadline day even rolled around.

And yet, they still managed to add a couple more new faces before the window slammed shut, just as an added benefit to a fanbase that has been through the wars in recent years.

They, more than anyone, deserve so much more than they have received on the pitch, and it was thought that the additions made would finally help get them to that next level.

Alas, three Premier League losses in as many games, and ten goals conceded, mark a worrying start.

But that’s not to suggest that the new men haven’t impressed.

Tim Iroegbunam could reach a new level at Everton

Tim Iroegbunam has undeniably been the standout star of a tough start this season, with the 21-year-old joining from Aston Villa and instantly establishing himself as a starter.

Unrelenting in the midfield, his work rate and defensive skillset had been lauded long before he moved to Goodison Park.

However, what was a welcome surprise was his competency in possession, gliding around the pitch with poise and purpose.

He is desperate to move the ball forward, and as such is pairing 0.7 key passes with four tackles per game too, via Sofascore.

What makes this even more impressive is that he is doing this beside Idrissa Gana Gueye, another hard-working asset who is perhaps lacking when on the ball.

Fortunately, with James Garner not far from returning, Sean Dyche could soon be set to strike up a remarkable midfield partnership that could take them both to the next level.

After all, the Manchester United academy graduate boasts plenty of similarities with Iroegbunam, having managed 1.2 key passes and 4.6 ball recoveries per game last season in the Premier League, via Sofascore. And, not long before that was he branded a ‘special‘ player by Statman Dave for his performances for Nottingham Forest.

If they could strike a fine balance, they could unlock each other’s creative and defensive potential.

When will Everton star James Garner back to full fitness?

Although he has made a sole start this season, in Everton’s comfortable EFL Cup win over Doncaster Rovers, his absence from Premier League action suggests he remains far from fully fit.

Having come into the new campaign nursing a calf injury, it was expected that the £15m maestro might miss their opening match against Brighton and Hove Albion.

And then, travelling to Tottenham Hotspur offered little reward for risking throwing him back in, so again holding him back made sense.

But, against AFC Bournemouth, his absence was wholly confusing, as was the fact that he was not substituted on despite the Toffees’ midfield clearly looking exhausted.

This international break will have provided him some much-needed respite from the pressures of getting fit in time for the next weekend, and hopefully, upon everyone’s return to Goodison Park, the 23-year-old is feeling fit and fresh enough to start starring alongside Iroegbunam, providing that similar level of creativity and combative solidity.