Iwobi hoping to help Everton to better season

Alex Iwobi of Everton during the pre-season friendly match between Stoke City and Everton at the Bet365 Stadium on July 29, 2021 in Stoke, England. (Photo by AFP)

Nigeria international Alex Iwobi has been a regular in the Everton starting XI during the Toffees’ pre-season matches ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League season. The upcoming campaign will be his fifth at the Merseyside club since moving there from Arsenal in 2019.

Everton narrowly escaped relegation into the Championship last season. They finished 17th, one place above the drop zone, with Leicester City, Leeds United, and Southampton being the three unfortunate clubs to be relegated. Victory over Bournemouth in the final game of the campaign ensured Iwobi’s side remained in the top flight of English football.

No player in the Everton squad featured more than Iowbi last season. The Nigerian was involved in all 41 games, scoring two goals, and providing nine assists. He has enjoyed some rest over the summer, and he is now ready to go again for club and country.

Iowbi will be next in action for his national team when the Super Eagles host Sao Tome and Principe in their final game of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification. Nigeria sits top of Group A on 12 points and victory will secure the number one spot in the standings.

Despite a 17th-place finish last season, Everton is expected to do much better in the 2023/24 campaign. They are as big as 4.0 in the online sports betting for relegation. Those odds with Bwin are the biggest prize available on the Toffees in the market on who will be relegated next season.

The Merseyside club is 4.33 to finish in the top half of the table. The last time they ended a campaign in the top half of the standings was in 2021 when they