Jake O’Brien makes honest admission about Everton playing time this season

Jake O’Brien makes honest admission about Everton playing time this season

 

Zak Anderton

Jake O’Brien has admitted he knew he’d have to be “patient” to get his chance in the first team when he joined Everton in the summer.

The defender has only played a few games for the Toffees this season and has been used as a backup since the start of the campaign.

Speaking to Everton’s Official YouTube Channel (14 October), the defender shared what it meant to him after he joined the Toffees in the summer.

“I knew coming here [Everton] I would have to be patient,” he said. “I know like the other clubs I have been at, being patient is something that is a part of it.

“And once I get my chance hopefully I will grab it with two hands and go from there. The Premier League is the best league in the world, the pace of the game, the physicality.

“I know I have not played much of it but you can see just from the line that it is very fast and it is a great league and has great players.

“So, I suppose the quicker I come in, the more I look forward to it”.

Everton should give Jake O’Brien a chance

This season, the Toffees’ defence has once again been one of the main talking points of Sean Dyche’s team.

The Merseyside outfit have been without star man Jarrad Branthwaite for the vast majority of the season, which has meant that James Tarkowski and Michael Keane have been the ones the former Burnley manager has chosen to rely upon.

That is despite bringing in O’Brien during the summer window for a fee worth around £17million, which makes the Ireland international one of the Toffees’ most expensive signings of recent times.

Jake O'Brien

Jake O’Brien joined Everton in the summer [Credit: Imago]

While Keane and Tarkowski have been in mostly decent form this term, there have been times when they’ve left a lot to be desired and Everton have seemed like they could really use the services of O’Brien.

Dyche may not feel like he’s ready yet, but if they want to avoid a relegation battle, the resting of players will no doubt be an integral part in doing so, which is where O’Brien’s services would evidently come in handy.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like
Read More 1

ewcastle United star Anthony Gordon may have missed a crucial penalty kick on his return to Goodison Park – but he did not disappear without a trace. If anything, despite the first half spot-kick failure, Gordon was Newcastle’s brightest player throughout a frustrating 90 minutes. Unfortunately, Everton stopper Jordan Pickford haunted the Magpies once again with a save from the spot that sent the home crowd delirious. Powered by When Gordon’s unconvincing penalty struck the knee of Pickford, Everton fans celebrated as if they’d won a trophy. Sadly, neither Gordon or any of his team-mates could make amends for the miss despite 14 goal attempts from the visitors. Promoted Stories Pickford went over to Gordon at the end of the game but only to console his England team-mate and share some warmer words. Pickford then went around Goodison Park to take the applause, knowing he’d essentially won a massive point for his side. The Magpies – clad in white and green – kicked off attacking the Gwladys Street End one final time in the Premier League in the first half. An intense opening saw Kieran Trippier take a boot in the head from Dominic Calvert-Lewin much to the fury of the travelling United fans but they were almost cheering on 10 minutes. Having won a corner, Harvey Barnes swung the ball in with Sandro Tonali flicking the ball on for Bruno Guimaraes who fired a low shot at Jordan Pickford. The Sunderland-born stopper didn’t get to it but a fortunate clearance on the line from Iliman Ndiaye spared his blushes. Promoted Stories Everton responded four minutes later when Calvert-Lewin was played through the middle by Ashley Young but his shot was easily patted down by Nick Pope. As the game edged towards the 20-minute mark, Everton fans went wild as Abdoulaye Doucouré looped a header over Pope but after a VAR check, it was clearly offside. This was a let-off for Newcastle who had allowed their levels to drop ever so slightly with Goodison Park highly charged for the occasion. With half an hour gone, Kieran Trippier teed up Jacob Murphy who flashed a shot wide before the first half’s main talking point. United were then handed a gift-wrapped penalty kick moments as James Tarkowski hauled Tonali to the floor. After a VAR check, Craig Pawson pointed to the spot and the stage was set for Gordon to silence his hecklers. After composing himself, he stepped up to a backdrop of angry faces but Pickford guessed the right way and saved the penalty low down with his knee. It was the cue for wild celebrations from the home fans who took great delight in their former star fluffing his lines on his old stamping ground. Gordon had another opportunity before the break but opted to head it to back to Joelinton who failed to make anything of it. The two teams went in at half-time level but the foundations of this famous old stadium were still quivering after Gordon’s penalty miss as the half-time whistle sounded. The England star, raised in nearby Kirkdale, did not disappear after the miss and still shone brightly beneath the famous old floodlights. He was involved in a clear opening on 55 minutes as he played in Joelinton before the Brazilian cut the ball to Bruno but his effort flew over the top. The Toffees made a tweak moments later as they introduced Idrissa Gueye for Orel Mangala. Newcastle made their first change of the evening on 62 minutes as Miguel Almiron replaced Barnes. Almiron quickly got in on the act as he was sent charging down the right with his cross deflecting at goal before Pickford saved again. Pope made an first class save to deny Calvert-Lewin low down before another furious penalty protest followed. The home side wanted a spot-kick of their own mid-way through the second half as Dan Burn and Calvert-Lewin came together in the box but the replays showed the striker had stumbled after kicking the Blyth lad’s leg and no penalty was given. Everton boss Sean Dyche raged in the technical area but it was a decision that Pawson got exactly right. Moments later, Joe Willock replaced Murphy as Newcastle pushed for a big last 20 minutes on Merseyside. Both Tino Livramenton and Sean Longstaff were also thrown into the battle on a tense autumn night. In a cagey affair, Almiron fired at goal on 73 minutes but the ball deflected just wide. There were nine minutes to go when Almiron sent Gordon racing clear down the right but he could not find the finish and blazed the ball into the Park End. Lewis Hall picked up a yellow card for a late foul on Ndiaye as Everton refused to buckle. In the final minute of the 90, Joelinton slashed a shot wide after being played in by substitute Livramento. With four minutes of added time tagged on the game still felt like it could go either way. Calvert-Lewin jinked through in the 93rd minute before being chopped down by Fabian Schar, who was booked for his trouble. Powered by James Garner stepped up from 30 yards out but blazed it high and wide and that was that. The final Premier League fixture between these two sides ended in a stalemate but it was far from a bore draw.

ewcastle United star Anthony Gordon may have missed a crucial penalty kick on his return to Goodison Park…
Read More