Everton old guard inspire improved form, but what about next season?

Much of the doom and gloom surrounding Everton recently has been lifted, at least temporarily, after back-to-back wins over Brighton and Stoke City.

These victories for Everton have coincided with three of the Blues’ longest serving players returning to the side and many feel that this is not a coincidence.

Seamus Coleman’s return from a long-term injury lay-off has been a huge boost to the side and his determined and committed performances have given the team new impetus.

Meanwhile, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka’s reintroduction to the starting line-up has added some much-needed experience and organisation to a defensive unit that has looked lost for large portions of this season.

The influence of the experienced trio has not been lost on manager Sam Allardyce, who took time to comment on their return to the side after Saturday’s victory against Stoke. He said:

"“The experience of those boys gave up very little chances to Stoke. Keeping them on the field of play is helping us – not only in defending well but also in terms of the way we use the ball.”"

Coleman, Baines and Jagielka are part of a tried and tested unit that has plenty of experience of playing together, dating back to when David Moyes was in charge.

While this option seems to be the right choice for the here and now, it does highlight the need for the Toffees to strengthen this area of the team and also raises questions over their defensive recruitment in recent years.

Seamus Coleman has wasted no time in reclaiming his right-back spot since recovering from his horrific leg break last year and will likely be a mainstay in the side for the foreseeable future.

With Jonjoe Kenny impressing in this position during the Irishman’s absence and proving to be a more than capable backup option.

Therefore the right-back area is looking quite healthy for the Blues, but the same cannot be said for the rest of the defence.

Since his return to the side, Leighton Baines has looked more like the player the fans know and love. But it shouldn’t be forgotten that he was not hitting the high standards he had set for himself prior to this injury lay-off.

The 33-year-old has been a magnificent servant of the club, but the time has come to bring in new blood that can perform consistently throughout the season, which Baines has sadly been unable to do in recent campaigns.

Everton are sorely lacking in this area of the field, evidenced by Cuco Martina being forced to fill in as a makeshift left-back while Baines was on the sidelines.

Other options, such as Luke Garbutt, do not seem to be fancied by the current staff, and it remains to be seen how Brendan Galloway will be favoured when he returns from his loan spell at Sunderland.

Everton had been tipped to sign a left-back in the January transfer window, but that never came to fruition after Allardyce and his staff failed to find a viable option.

This issue will need to be addressed in the Summer and likely will be with recent reports such as today’s Daily Mail linking the Blues with unsettled Man Utd left-back, Luke Shaw.

The most important thing is that Everton sign the right player, which hasn’t been the case in recent transfer windows, as can be seen by some of their additions in the heart of the defence.

Ashley Williams has not been the commanding leader that many had hoped he would be when he arrived from Swansea.

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Whereas Ramiro Funes Mori has not been reliable enough to earn himself a guaranteed place in the side since he joined the club.

The latest signing in this position was Michael Keane, who joined the Toffees from Burnley in the Summer in a deal which could potentially cost the Blues up to £30 million.

Keane has fallen some way short of justifying this transfer fee in his first season at the club. However, at just 25-years-old, there is still hope that the England International will come good.

As for January loanee Eliaquim Mangala, he will surely not be signed on a permanent basis after a couple of abysmal performances in an Everton shirt before being sidelined by injury.

So while Everton’s old guard deserve praise for their recent performances and are rightly credited for having a significant role in the Toffee’s upturn in form, they are not the long-term answer to the current defensive issues at the club.

Next: Will Blues qualify for Europa League?

The back line will have to be strengthened with new recruits before the beginning of next season if the Blues are to avoid a repeat of this year’s dismal campaign.