Everton may have just unleashed new attacking weapon after press conference claim
Analysis from Chris Beesley after Everton’s 1-1 draw at Brentford in the Premier League
In his pre-match press conference ahead of this game, Everton manager David Moyes spoke about how he didn’t want to change Jake O’Brien. But the summer signing added a new string to his bow here with a first goal in English football.
The Blues boss had been talking in the context that the Republic of Ireland international remains a centre-back at heart but has been pushed into full-back duties in order to give him some valuable Premier League experience having not started a game in the competition under Sean Dyche.
In terms of his age, O’Brien is perhaps not as young as either Moyes or many first thought given that he’ll be celebrating his 24th birthday before this season finishes – older than Everton captain Kevin Ratcliffe was when he lifted the FA Cup in 1984 – but in terms of appearances at the highest level, he’s still finding his way and for all his natural athleticism, power and pace, he remains somewhat coltish in some respects as he learns his trade.
rom Chris Beesley after Everton’s 1-1 draw at Brentford in the Premier League
In 34 previous outings in England for Swindon Town and the Blues – plus a further 13 at the start of his career for local club Cork City – O’Brien had never scored but that didn’t mean he didn’t have it in his locker.
The defender struck three times during his year in Belgium for RWD Molenbeek and then got five for Olympique Lyonnais last season. A spectacular strike on his debut, just 15 minutes after coming on as a substitute at Preston North End in pre-season, less than a week after signing, was also a marker but this was an all together different stage and a special moment for arguably the biggest individual winner so far since Moyes returned.
