David Moyes can unlock Jake O’Brien after discovering secret Everton weapon to play full-back
Everton manager David Moyes may have found his solution to finally allow return Jake O’Brien to his natural position at centre-back.
The opening months of the season have seen Everton forced to deal with a number of injury issues affecting their defence.
It is becoming a running theme for David Moyes in not having his full strength defence available to him on Merseyside.
Jarrad Branthwaite has successfully undergone surgery, but Moyes was not willing to put a time frame on his return just yet.
“We won’t put a timescale on it. We’ll give him a chance to heal and take his time,” Moyes said on Friday at Finch Farm.
However, there is one surprise option emerging to potentially bolster the defence and unlock O’Brien at centre-back.
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David Moyes wowed by Everton’s Merlin Rohl
Just days after signing on deadline day, it was suggested that Merlin Rohl was really impressing in Everton training.
An injury did slightly set him back, but it seems as if the German midfielder is working flat out to earn a spot in Moyes’ starting XI.
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Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, in the closed section of his press conference, Moyes waxed lyrical about Rohl.
“We’ve been really impressed with what we’ve seen from Merlin. Certainly, his physicals are something else, they really are, so there’s lots about him we like,” said Moyes.
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“It would be easier to put him in if we had games in Europe – it’s a bit harder when you’re having to win a Premier League game and you only get one go at it.
“But we’ve been hugely impressed by him.”
Perhaps the most interesting line was when Moyes suggested he could replicate his James Garner switch and play Rohl at full-back.
“He can play so many roles. We would have no problem tucking him in off the sides or maybe even putting him as a full back or a midfield player,” Moyes added.
Garner has really impressed for Everton at left-back this season. So it would be interesting to see how Rohl could potentially fill in if needed.
Moyes still views Jake O’Brien as a centre-back
Darren Bent believes O’Brien should return to centre-back having watched him struggle to provide much of an attacking input at right-back.
With Branthwaite out through injury, now feels like the perfect opportunity for the Ireland international to return to the middle.
The issue lies in Everton not having the depth at full-back to free up O’Brien.
During Friday’s press conference, Moyes did admit that he still sees O’Brien’s future as a centre-back.
“He’s had a couple of games and he did very well. He is a centre-back, but he is doing a very good job for us at right-back in the main, he needs to keep his levels up, like we all do,” said the Everton boss.
Moyes was impressed with Rohl’s display against Manchester City when he came on from the bench at the Etihad Stadium.
