Everton are having a tough time in their search for a new left-back, and Sam Allardyce claims it is because it is hard to find them in January.
The Toffees boss has repeated his desire to find a solution to the Blues’ problem positions, but admits defenders are proving difficult.
With the club unable to put a time frame on Leighton Baines’ return, and with right-back Cuco Martina forced out of position, Everton fans are hoping to see a new left-sided full back come in to Goodison Park this month.
When asked by the Liverpool Echo if he was still in the hunt for a new left-back, Allardyce said;
If you could find me one I suppose it would possibly be a position we would like to try and fill.
There’s no doubt that Cuco is doing a fantastic job and yet he, myself and everyone knows it’s not his strong position but at the moment we are finding it difficult to fill that position.
So we do need a left footed player, not just at left-back, we probably need three left-footed players in the squad but we’re not going to get that this season.
But certainly the balance of the squad will have to be addressed next season with more players capable of having a strong left foot.
Despite Allardyce’s claim that Martina is undoubtedly doing an admirable job deputising for Baines, fans think otherwise. Martina has often proven to be the club’s scapegoat, both deserved and undeserved at times, this season.
A host of left-backs have been linked with the club in the last few weeks, including Bayern Munich’s Juan Bernat, Porto’s Alex Telles, West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell and Crystal Palace’s Patrick van Aanholt to name but a few.
However, none of these have come to fruition as of yet. Allardyce, who has been without Baines since taking over as manager in early December, says that won’t rush the England international back. He continued;
We’ve ruled out surgery because the surgeon says he doesn’t need it.
He even said he doesn’t need any injections so we just need to monitor that situation.
And, again, when Leighton comes back from what is a considerably lengthy injury it’s like Seamus – when do we play him and when don’t we?
Yannick Bolasie was never going to be Yannick Bolasie when he first got back in the team. We might have to wait a bit longer.
James McCarthy, who’s done brilliant because we’ve had this long catalogue of injuries, but touch wood and he’s performing to his best like Yannick but it’s not his peak best because of the situation he found himself in before he got back fit again.
That will be the same with Leighton so we have to be a little bit patient and the only way we can get a little bit of patience is for the lads to turn around the results situation and that makes life easier for us all.
So results are what it’s all about and what we need to get on Saturday and it gives all those players I mentioned a little bit more time, the new ones time to settle in, and the ones who have been injured for a long time to get back fit and get in the squad.
Everton next face West Brom at Goodison Park, where they will hope to regain some positive momentum after a lengthy run without a win.
