New signing in line for unexpected Everton debut

It seems very possible that new Everton signing Ben Godfrey could well be in line to make his debut for the Blues in Saturday’s Merseyside derby.

According to the Liverpool Echo, Everton are considering putting the former Norwich City man straight into the team to play right-back against Liverpool in the much-anticipated derby game.

This is a position he has previously played earlier in his career and could potentially solve a major selection headache for Carlo Ancelotti.

Injuries have again been piling up recently for the Everton boss and although it looks very likely that most of those players hurt in recent weeks, such as Allan and Richarlison, might be fit and available, the one player who is almost certainly out, is right-back and captain Seamus Coleman.

The 31-year-old, who has had superb start to the campaign, has a suspected hamstring problem. He is joined on the treatment table by his back-up Jonjo Kenny out for several more weeks, leaving Everton without a recognised right-back.

It’s a source of constant frustration the seemingly endless number of knocks and injury problems to players that the Toffees have to deal with.

Last season a number of players spent significant amounts of time out of the team with various injuries. In particular then new midfield signing Jean-Philippe Gbamin, brought in to replace Idrissa Gueye, who has barely played for the Blues since his move last summer.

His absence from the team for the entire season, almost certainly contributed significantly to Everton’s chronic midfield failings in the last campaign, which in turn undermined so much of the team’s overall play.

While injuries are not the only reason the Blues performed so badly last season, they certainly don’t’ help a team find any consistency and stability when there is a constant chopping and changing of players and positions.

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It is a problem that seems to affect the Toffees more than most clubs and it’s something the Blues need to deal with.

Godfrey’s arrival on transfer deadline day, is therefore very timely as the versatile young defender can play in a number of positions, including full-back, centre-back and midfield.

Putting the England Under-21 international into the team for such a big match is of course a gamble.

But otherwise it would mean giving the job to someone like Tom Davies, who had to fill in at full-back in the Blues last Premier League game.

Godfrey has the pace to deal with the threat of Sadio Mane, who has finished his quarantine and will presumably be lining up against the Toffees right-back, whoever that will be, on Saturday.

If Godfrey gets his chance to make an unexpected debut this weekend, we will get an early chance to see exactly what quality of player the Blues have got for their £30 million.