Alex Iwobi has opened up on the advice Frank Lampard gave him before he lined him up in midfield against Chelsea on Saturday.
Despite it being a disappointing result for the Blues, suffering a 1-0 defeat, thanks to a Jorginho penalty late in the first half, there were a number of positives to take.
The performance of Iwobi, playing in the centre of the pitch alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure, was certainly one of them.
Lining up a little deeper than many Evertonians might be used to, the 26-year-old was strong both defensively and in using the ball well to bring his side forward.
Unfortunately the Nigerian international couldn’t be the difference in the scoreline, but many fans were impressed with his efforts – as was his manager Lampard.
And Iwobi has revealed that he had private conversations with the Blues boss about the role he was set to play.
He told evertonfc.com: “I had a meeting with the manager before the game who told me – especially when we are going on the attack – that I should look around and be aware of my surroundings.
“It helped me going into the game and I felt like I did okay.
“I felt quite comfortable in midfield.
“The defence was always talking to me and helping me, so I was always in the right positions at the right times.
“The gaffer is always talking to me, motivating me and telling me to go out and express myself, kick on from last season, and I feel like I’ve done that so far.
“But it’s a long season, it’s a marathon, and there’s a long way to go.
“The fans are always giving me that confidence that even if a pass doesn’t come off, they’ll clap and applaud the effort.
“It’s something that’s helping me go into games that, even if I do miss, I’ll have the confidence to try something again.
“It worked out against Chelsea, I was able to make some forward passes and hopefully it leads to some assists in the next game.”
Another helping hand for Iwobi was James Tarkowski, making his Premier League debut for Everton at centre-back.
The summer signing from Burnley slotted straight into Lampard’s system and was one of the best players on the day.
And Iwobi has described the feeling of safety the defender brings when knowing he’s behind – and the amount of communication that comes along with that.
“He’s a giant at the back, he’s a monster,” the former Arsenal man said. “You feel very safe and secure with him, and nothing goes past him.
“For me playing in front of him, he’s always talking to me, always helping me to be in the right positions.
“He’s good for me, good for the team, has a lot of experience. It was a solid performance from him.”
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