A regular with the Super Eagles, the former Arsenal ace is a bit-part player for the Toffees
Former Everton ace Marcus Bent believes the club’s faithful have not seen the best of Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi. But the ex-Leicester City forward expects the Arsenal academy graduate to shake off his struggles and become a regular at Goodison Park.
Iwobi has filtered in and out of the first-team picture at Everton since he completed a £34million deal from the Gunners in the summer of 2019.
This campaign has not been much different, with the Super Eagles playmaker starting just 17 of Everton’s 36 Premier League games this season, managing just one goal and two assists.
After a promising start to the season, Everton are on track to end outside of the European qualifying spots, and Iwobi would feature prominently among the underwhelming stars in Carlos Ancelotti’s squad.
The 25-year-old was an unused substitute yet again as they were shockingly beaten 1-0 at home by already-relegated Sheffield United at Goodison Park on Sunday evening.
But Bent has enumerated a few reasons behind Iwobi’s difficult spell with the Toffees and lent his support to the Nigerian ace.
“We can talk about James McFadden and Kevin Kilbane, both of them struggled when they first came in back in the day,” the ex-Everton ace told Thisisfootball.
“Coming from Arsenal to Everton is far from home – the culture in a sense, I have learned that on my journey, being away from family and friends.
“He’s only been there nearly two seasons. He’s struggled in a sense the technical side of his and Everton’s side of football, but I think he can come good with time.”
Iwobi has not contributed any goal to Everton’s cause since netting a fantastic opening goal in the 2-1 win over Wolves Wanderers since mid-January.