Joe Thomas shares which Everton man was winding everyone up after 'Innocuous' Preston moment

Everton striker Neal Maupay wound up Preston North End’s players after an “innocuous” foul in their pre-season friendly, according to Joe Thomas.

The Liverpool Echo reporter wrote in their live blog of the match (3 August, 4:44pm) that Maupay was “doing Maupay things” having been pulled aside by the referee to discuss his actions following the foul.

Maupay entered the fray from the substitutes bench after new signing Jesper Lindstrom had put the Toffees 3-0 up, and clipped a Preston player on halfway with just a few minutes of the game remaining.

Thomas wrote: “Neal Maupay is now being Neal Maupay and gets a talking to from the ref after catching a Preston player on the halfway line.

“The foul is innocuous but Maupay plays up in the aftermath and winds everyone up in the process!”

Neal Maupay needs to take Everton chance this season

It seems that a second-half cameo from the substitutes bench is, at present, as good as things are going to get for Maupay at Goodison Park this season, having spent the last campaign out on loan at Brentford.

Though he is back in the Blues fold after Brentford reneged on making his move permanent [19 May], Maupay must do more than actively winding up opposition defenders to stake a claim in Sean Dyche’s side.

If he can do that winding up by being very difficult to play against, Maupay might be a useful asset having returned to Goodison Park following a loan spell at Brentford, but late challenges and arguments certainly won’t help his cause.

The Toffees are yet to bring in any out-and-out striker reinforcements as the transfer window enters its final month, but should anyone come in, they’re likely to be above Maupay in the pecking order.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s future under a cloud as his contract heads towards expiry [Liverpool Echo, 3 August], Maupay’s best chance of being a starter – on current form – could be the number nine making a last-gasp move away.

In other Everton news, Sean Dyche was stunned at a question on Jarrad Branthwaite’s future after the Blues confirmed their latest signing.

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