Sky Sports: Moyes Explains Why He Played Jake O’Brien Out Of Position In Key Everton Win.

Jake O’Brien made an excellent debut in the Premier League for Everton, who defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 on Sunday. The big Irish defender joined the Toffees from Lyon in the summer, but he struggled to find competitive minutes under former manager Sean Dyche, who pushed him down the pecking order. His season on a Premier League surface consisted of brief cameo appearances against Aston Villa and Manchester United before being backed from the start by his new management. Moyes, who has returned to the role where he originally rose to prominence, publicly supported the 23-year-old ahead of the game as he looked for a winning formula.

Moyes’ gamble paid off, with the Cork native coming out on the right side of Everton’s defenders and doing the damage in the first half. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Iliman Ndiaye both scored before Tottenham’s Archie Grey added an own goal. Spurs scored twice in the second half, but it was too late, as O’Brien’s first Premier League appearance for the club culminated in a victory. Moyes Explains Jake O’Brien Change After Win Vs Spurs

Moyes’ decision to start O’Brien on the right side of defence was intriguing, given the 6’6″ defender’s reputation in the centre. Moyes stuck with highly rated Jarrad Branthwaithe and James Tarkowski in the centre, citing their experience as a crucial factor in O’Brien moving into the role often held by Seamus Coleman. Moyes’ faith in O’Brien is demonstrated by his willingness to put him in a new role to see what he could do to the squad. It has been a fantastic few days for the former Crystal Palace player, who received praise from Coleman when the veteran took command of their recent FA Cup victory against Peterborough.

O’Brien will hope to be in the reckoning when Everton travel to take on Brighton next Saturday in the Premier League as they look to build on their new-found momentum.

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