Ex-Toffee eager for never-before-seen Everton ace to start v Tottenham

Former Everton player Michael Ball has called for Sean Dyche to start young right-back Roman Dixon against Tottenham.

Everton are facing a selection dilemma at right-back for the match on Saturday (24 August) as Ashley Young is suspended after his red card against Brighton & Hove Albion, while Nathan Patterson and Seamus Coleman are out with injuries.

Ex-Toffee Ball wrote in his column for the Liverpool Echo [20 August] that Sean Dyche should take the risk and hand Dixon his first senior appearance for the Blues.

He said: “If Roman Dixon plays the game, he’s shown a bit of quality in pre-season games and he’s fast and wants to go forward. I watched him and thought ‘wow, is he really good or have I just not seen a full-back run 10 yards forward for a good couple of years?’

“I don’t know what level the boy could be, but he’s shown something that we haven’t seen. Has he got the quality in the final third? Who knows?

“But give him the opportunity. If he has a poor game against Son Heung-min and company then whatever because it’s a win-win anyway.”

Sean Dyche should start Roman Dixon for Everton

The 19-year-old has quietly walked into first-team contention with impressive cameo performances throughout pre-season, but many supporters will be unaware of him as he has yet to play any senior minutes.

Dyche has a difficult decision to make heading into the match against Tottenham – select a player like Mason Holgate to play out of position or throw a promising young talent straight into the deep end?

The Blues will be going into the match as heavy underdogs, but after Spurs drew 1-1 with Leicester City on Monday (19 August), there is a glimmer of hope that Dyche can leave London with three points.

Whoever is chosen to play right-back will be going up against the lively Son. Holgate as is already known will struggle in a one-on-one battle with the Spurs captain but Dixon is more of a question mark, and that unpredictability is worth the risk.

The England U20 international has featured 69 times with one goal and three assists in the youth setup at Finch Farm, and faces a potential once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to introduce himself to Blues supporters.

Once Coleman and Patterson return to fitness, opportunities will be limited. But if he can prove himself against one of the best wingers in the league in Son, he could be rewarded with a catastrophic rise to the first-team fold.

There is little to no expectation for Everton to win the match so why not give a chance to Dixon to impress? It is a risk that has the potential for high rewards.

In other Everton news, Sam Allardyce is amazed at what he’s been told about Everton takeover in £300m twist.

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