Everton: £100k-a-week star has ‘gone back to basics’ at Goodison Park

Everton manager Frank Lampard has ‘gone back to basics’ with his use of Alex Iwobi in recent months, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The 26-year-old has put in a string of impressive performances at the end of last season and the start of the current campaign since being moved into central midfield from Lampard.

Iwobi arrived at Everton from his boyhood club Arsenal back in 2019 for a fee that could rise to £35 million but initially struggled to make an impact in his current surroundings.

In the Nigeria international’s opening 97 appearances for the Toffees, he registered just seven goals and seven assists across all competitions while largely being fielded out wide.

However, Lampard made the bold decision to try Iwobi in the middle of the park at the back end of last season, and he has certainly started to repay his boss in 2022/23.

Iwobi racked up five goal contributions in his opening 10 games of this season and has already beaten his best-ever assists tally for Everton in the Premier League, highlighting the dramatic improvements he has made.

Alongside summer signings Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye, the versatile star has formed a formidable midfield trio over the last few weeks, breathing new hope into a previously underwhelming Everton side.

Everton had a slow start to the season, failing to win any of their opening six league games before consecutive victories over West Ham United and Southampton catapulted them up the table.

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And Jones believes that Iwobi’s own upturn in performances really is as ‘simple’ as putting him in a role where ‘he is most likely to have an impact’.

He told GiveMeSport: “He’s