'I like Tyrique': Moyes praises George after good Brentford cameo

Tyrique George has played just 280 minutes this season.
The Chelsea loanee played 24 games last season for Chelsea.
Looking unlikely that the loan move will be made permanent.

Tyrique George joined Everton on loan from Chelsea in January, brought in as cover after Jack Grealish’s season‑ending injury. The 20‑year‑old had been part of Chelsea’s Conference League‑winning squad and arrived with promise. But minutes have been hard to come by.

Saturday’s trip to Brentford saw George get some minutes. Earlier, George had started just one Premier League game and totalled only 280 minutes across ten appearances.

At the Gtech Community Stadium, George replaced Dwight McNeil in the 75th minute. His introduction came moments before Igor Thiago scored his second goal to put Brentford 2‑1 up. But Everton refused to fold, and Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall’s 91st‑minute equaliser secured a vital point.

Moyes: ‘He’s got good control, he wants to score’

Speaking after the final whistle, David Moyes singled out the young winger for praise and hinted at a bigger role in the run‑in.

“I like Tyrique. We’ll try to get him more opportunities and minutes when we can. He’s got good control, he wants to score and you saw that today.”

Moyes expanded on what he expects from wide players in his system. “We rely a lot on Ili Ndiaye, I’m sure Brentford rely a lot on Schade and their wide players as well. I think being a wide player now you’ve got to have a contribution with goals and assists. He’s a young boy who will obviously continue to develop, I’ve got no doubt about that.”

George’s numbers from his 16‑minute cameo were encouraging. In his brief 16 minutes, Tyrique George managed two shots, one on target, and an xG of 0.08. He also registered 12 touches in a lively display. While he has yet to register a goal or an assist for Everton, the manager clearly sees potential.

Loan likely to end without permanent move

Despite Moyes’ positive words, earlier reports from the Daily Mail suggest Everton are unlikely to trigger the option to buy George permanently. The expectation is that he will return to Chelsea at the end of the season, with the Toffees instead looking at other targets for the left flank.

George has struggled to dislodge Iliman Ndiaye, Dwight McNeil or even Beto in the attacking rotation, and his lack of end product has been a factor.

But that does not diminish the importance of his role between now and May. With six Premier League games remaining and European qualification still in reach, Everton need every available body. George may not be a long‑term solution, but he can still contribute in the short term.

Moyes’ promise of more minutes suggests the Chelsea loanee will get further chances to impress. Whether those minutes lead to a goal or an assist, or simply help Everton over the line, remains to be seen.

From now on, every appearance is an audition. At Brentford, he passed the first test. Now he needs to build on it with minutes expected to come.