Demarai Gray has been tasked with finding the ‘balance of his talent’ as he competes for a bigger role in Sean Dyche’s Everton.
The winger was the Blues’ best player after domestic football resumed following the World Cup, scoring against Manchester City and Brighton and threatening throughout the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.
But injury and a change in formation have combined to mean Dyche is yet to start the 26-year-old.
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Gray has only played 29 minutes under Dyche so far despite being in each of his three matchday squads. He was an unused substitute in the win over Arsenal, following which Dyche said he had gone into the game with a hip and groin issue. Gray then came on in the 61st minute of the Merseyside derby before remaining on the bench in the win over Leeds United.
Dyche has adopted a five man midfield in each game and has used Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi, who have each taken on significant defensive work on those matches, as his wide men. The pair also take corners under Dyche, whose tactic of swinging in deep balls to the back post has seen James Tarkowski score against Arsenal, hit the post at Liverpool and force a good save from Ilan Meslier of Leeds.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury problems persisting, Gray could be given an opportunity in a central role - and Dyche has previously suggested Everton’s top scorer this season could be given such a chance. As he continues to assess his new side he has spoken to Gray about how the pair can work together.
Asked how Gray could challenge for a place in the starting line-up, Dyche said ahead of the Aston Villa match: “I think just finding that balance of his talent, the work ethic of the group and how the group tactically play. That mixture. To find those combinations. I’ve already spoken to him about it, his role and his continued development and how he sees it.
"He’s still only 26 and he’s been in and out at clubs, Leicester and stuff like that. Finding that platform for consistency. And he shared that back - about when he found himself in that position in the past and could he find that consistency in the role and not just his technical performance but the actual role within a team. So I have been speaking to him about that.”
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