Gordon England debut underlines increasing Everton importance

Anthony Gordon bagged a brace in his England Under-21 debut against Czech Republic underlining his increasing importance to Everton.

As we move towards the January transfer window the Everton brains trust have been talking about the club’s priorities.

It’s emerged that Rafa Benitez and Marcel Brands are focusing on adding another midfielder and a wide attacker when they look to make signings in the new year.

Well, given his performances recently I think that Anthony Gordon might well be able to save Benitez and Brands from having to sign another winger in January.

I’ve been an admirer of Gordon for a while now and I’ve urged Benitez to give him more game-time especially as he has shown increasing maturity and influence when he has played.

The young forward got his chance to start and play a full ninety minutes against Spurs and while he didn’t set the game alight, he was a threat offensively and as always did the hard work in support of his defence too.

Gordon is still young and his game is obviously a little raw but he appears to have the tools to be a quality wide attacker playing on either flank.

Against Tottenham he was operating on the right side, while for England he played on the left. This ability to operate on either wing as he is essentially two-footed, is a real bonus.

He’s also got real pace, suprising strength for a slender player and the ability to create chances and finish them too as his two goals for the England youth side indicated.

In addition, he has shown he is ready to track back and help out defensively and provide cover for his full-back, which is certainly an important quality in the modern game.

And, Gordon has the confidence to believe he can be a top Premier League player. That’s good to see as perhaps other young players haven’t had the self-belief to make the most of their talent.

So, I think that Benitez and Brands if they are looking for two signings, should concentrate on trying to find a right-back and another central midfielder to boost those two key areas of the team both of which need additonal support more than the wide attacking areas.

It will be a risk to rely too much on Gordon and he probably won’t be playing every week of course, but I think the club need to give their best and most determined youngsters a real chance. After all some of the senior players who get games have repeatedly let the side and the fans down.