Everton: Ben Godfrey injury gives £16.2 million man a chance to impress Lampard

In his first lineup, new Everton manager Frank Lampard deployed a three man defence consisting of Micheal Keane, Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate. In the post-game comments, the Englishman indicated that a back three is not something that he will be fixated upon and there’s no definitive formation he will stick to.

Rafa Benitez preferred Keane and Mina as the centre back pairing. There is no indication yet from Lampard that which central defender tops his preferential list. Godfrey was forced off in the 14th minute of the game and assessment after the game at Finch Farm have revealed that the Englishman has suffered a hamstring tear ruling him out for four to five weeks.

This does cause some level of unrest given how versatile Godfrey has been. His perfect blend of athleticism and aggressiveness made him a great catch for Everton and he has shown in the last 18 months that he is an excelling youngster with the eye to reach the top.

In an essence, Godfrey is the ‘Jack of all trades’ and Everton will be without him for four to five weeks. This does open up a new door of opportunity for one defender who has barely had eye catching performances in the last couple of seasons – Holgate.

Everton defender Mason Holgate has a huge chance to win Frank Lampard’s confidence

Holgate has gone from being an unprecedented starter in the 2019-20 season to barely being a squad option. In two seasons and under two different managers, Holgate has dipped and been reduced to an average defender.

If Holgate would be running for the US presidency, his approval ratings would be going down with each passing season. He was once a fan favourite but sub standard performances have seen fans cry out for a better upgrade.

In January, when Newcastle United signed Dan Burn, Holgate was rumoured to be headed to the Amex Stadium but a move never materialized. The 25 year old is running out of chances and this could be his last chance to convince the Everton hierarchy before the summer transfer window arrives.

Under Lampard, everyone starts with a clean slate and the first impression made by Holgate has been positive. Godfrey’s misfortune could prove to be Holgate’s golden ticket. Provided, he continues to rack up defensively sound performances, the 25 year old has a chance to win back the trust of supporters and eventually remain in contention for selection or he may end up getting offloaded.

Will Mason Holgate live up to the billing?