Pundit Tips Iwobi to be Frozen Out after Saints Display

Everton were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat against Premier League side Southampton at the weekend, breaking their unbeaten run – and one pundit has indicated a peripheral winger could bear further consequences for his performance.

Former England international Paul Robinson has tipped Alex Iwobi to suffer further difficulty breaking into Carlo Ancelotti’s plans going forward, insisting that the attacker ‘did not take’ his chance as he filled in the absence of the suspended Richarlison.

Speaking to Football Insider on the Toffee’s ‘very disappointing’ loss, Robinson noted how Iwobi was ungraciously substituted off at half-time for Richarlison’s Brazilian compatriot Bernard. Robinson viewed that moment as indicative of Iwobi’s long-run Everton future, saying it ‘tells you a lot’ about the manager’s thoughts on the player.

“Iwobi is going to find it difficult to break into this Everton team after his display at the weekend,” he told Football Insider.

“He was given his opportunity against Southampton and he did not take it, which is evident from Ancelotti’s bringing him off at half time.

“Everton were very disappointing and that was a game that they would have earmarked to win.

“Iwobi was given his opportunity in a team that was playing really well, let’s not forget. He was was not brought into a side that was struggling. This was a team that was top of the league and undefeated.

“It was not like he was not expected to be the star performer so it was a real opportunity missed for him. It tells you a lot if the manager drags you at half-time.”

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Being substituted at half-time is not exactly a glowing endorsement of a player’s performance.

Iwobi has appeared to be outside of Ancelotti’s preferred core of players – he has only appeared 5 times (only starting once, against the Saints), with no goals, one assist and just an average of 12 passes per game to his name.

That should be ugly reading for all concerned. It should be expected that Ancelotti would call upon Bernard and Anthony Gordon for future games off the basis of his choices against the Saints.