Godfrey or Kenny – who should start for Everton
As Everton prepare for their trip to Newcastle United there are plenty of issues around team selection for manager Carlo Ancelotti to resolve.
One of those questions is who should start at right-back for Everton when they take on the Magpies this Sunday.
New signing Ben Godfrey played there in last weekend’s defeat at Southampton, after coming on for the injured Seamus Coleman in the first half of the Merseyside derby.
The loss of Coleman is a major blow for the Toffees as the Irishman had been rejuvenated recently and has been in superb form since the start of the season, while his experience and leadership at the back are also a big miss.
After performing well against Liverpool, Godfrey had a less assured game on the south coast and showed his inexperience in the position.
That’s perhaps not surprising as after all he is primarily a central defender and is coming into a new team as well.
Former Blues midfielder Leon Osman made the point that due to his being a centre-back, the former Norwich City player didn’t link-up nearly as much with Everton’s superstar Colombian James Rodriguez, as Coleman does.
This played a significant part in blunting the effectiveness and influence of Rodriguez, who was unable to have the kind of attacking impact that he has had in previous matches this season.
The way that Coleman feeds Rodriguez and takes up the right positions to cover effectively for him, is an important factor in how well the Colombian can affect a game.
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The other option of course is Jonjo Kenny. However, after returning from a reasonably successful loan stint in Germany, the former youth team product also got hurt early this season.
It appears that he is fit again and therefore in contention for the Newcastle game. Kenny is a player who divides opinion with many Evertonians not convinced he is good enough to perform in the Premier League.
But he has experience in the Bundesliga following his spell with Schalke 04 last season. And while he is still relatively untried in England, he has played a few top flight games for the Toffees.
Kenny does also offer a genuine attacking threat as he likes to get forward and puts in some decent balls into the box as well.
Will Ancelotti give youngster a chance for Everton. dark. Next
If he is fit, Kenny might be a better bet for this match given that he is a full-back by trade and will offer that additional attacking threat. Hopefully he will be able to link up effectively with Rodriguez, assuming he too is able to play at St James Park.