‘You notice’: Pundit suggests Sean Dyche keeps playing 22-year-old Everton star out of position

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Michael Ball has criticised Sean Dyche for continuing to play James Garner out of position.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Ball insisted that the Everton boss should move Garner back into central midfield after he was forced out wide again at the weekend.

The midfielder joined Everton for £15 million last summer but initially struggled to force his way into Frank Lampard’s plans and was then sidelined for a few months with a back injury.

Upon his return to the senior team, Garner occupied the right-back position and performed very well in the injured Seamus Coleman’s place, though it was expected that he would return to midfield in the new season.

While the Manchester United academy graduate has been pushed further up the field, Dyche has mostly opted to play him on the wing.

While Garner excelled in his natural position as he scored the first goal of his Everton career against Aston Villa, he ended up back out wide as Everton were beaten by Luton Town.

Ball has now slammed the decision to continue playing Garner out of position. Speaking to the Echo, he said: “I think James Garner should be playing in central midfield because that’s his position. The issue with Garner is that he’s a good footballer so when he plays right-back or on the right wing, he plays well.

“But you notice, as soon as he’s in central midfield, he’s not second guessing where he should be, which happens when you’re playing out of position. That’s what happens when you get moved around, I played everywhere except in goal in the Premier League.

“Yes you can fill in for one or two games when you’ve got an injury crisis or suspensions but when you go back to your natural position, it comes natural to you, you don’t think about it.

“Those little moments in your head can affect the game. Garner showed that at Aston Villa when he played in the centre, he expressed himself a lot more and he seemed to be enjoying it.

“I was thinking ‘you’ve got two wingers on the bench, why are you playing a central midfielder out wide?’ I know the manager is saying it’s down to the players to change the story but it’s down to him to set a style out correctly.”

Play James Garner in the middle!

James Garner has so far mostly featured out wide, while Idrissa Gana Gueye, Amadou Onana and Abdoulaye Doucoure have started in the middle.

The latter two have definitely contributed something this season, with Doucoure already netting twice in the top flight. However, there is definitely an argument to be had for Gueye dropping to the bench and Garner returning to his natural position.

The 22-year-old has shown his talent in central midfield when he has played there and it seemed like a crazy idea to even return him to the wing after his performance in the Carabao Cup – especially when Dyche had the option to start one of Arnaut Danjuma and Jack Harrison.