Gylfi Sigurdsson Can Step Up to Fill Everton’s Creative Void [Opinion]

Leadership and technical ability were dealt a double blow in Everton’s plans after club captain Seamus Coleman and summer signing James Rodriguez were confirmed as unavailable for the Toffees’ clash with Leicester this evening.

That could see a weight of expectation being placed upon experienced creative playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson. The former Swansea and Spurs midfielder stepped up as he scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in Everton’s 1-0 win over Chelsea last weekend.

A commanding defensive display saw the Iceland international shrug off protests from Richarlison to take responsibility for the decisive penalty – and that leadership is what he needs going into the clash with the Foxes.

Analysis by the Liverpool Echo noted that the Toffees had seven chances in win over Frank Lampard’s Blues, and the 31-year-old was the maestro behind six of them. If that stat fails to highlight his importance in terms of creativity, then nothing will.

Playing in the gap behind the striker, Sigurdsson put in a commanding performance which was the most individually creative performance from an Everton player in a Premier League match for more than two years.

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That could prove decisive as Sigurdsson looks virtually guaranteed to start against Brendan Rodgers’ side tonight.

The gap left by Rodriguez and Coleman can therefore be overcome in one fell swoop by Ancelotti as he re-integrates the Iceland ace into his starting line-up.

Indeed, Ancelotti recently challenged Sigurdsson to capitalise on his good form and prove himself, saying: “I agree he did really well, supported the team offensively and defensively.

“He hasn’t started a lot of games but he has played a lot of parts of games. I am satisfied. He can improve his level. But in this moment he is ok.”

The 31-year-old can turn ‘satisfied’ and ‘ok’ into ‘thrilled’ and ‘instrumental’ as the watchwords for the dynamo if he can build on his fine display against Chelsea.