Everton manager, Frank Lampard, says his decision to allow Nigeria international, Alex Iwobi, play in the heart of the team’s midfield is because he is convinced it was the best position for the former Arsenal man.

Iwobi has featured in all of Everton’s Premier League fixtures this season playing every minute of each game. The midfielder has been one of the best players for the Toffees this season and has shown it by creating three assists while scoring a screamer against Manchester United over the weekend in a 2-1 loss to the Red Devils.

The Super Eagles star had a tough start to his Everton career and had been a subject of ridicule amongst the club’s faithfuls who believes he has not replicated the form that saw the team splash £34m to secure his services from Arsenal on deadline day in the summer of 2019.

Iwobi has played under several managers who played him out of position but since the arrival of Lampard in the tail end of the 2021/22 season, the Nigerian has flourished. 

However, Lampard has revealed that despite being written off, he has always believed that Iwobi has the quality to be an important and very dangerous player for the club.

“His development’s been brilliant. I think there was a perception of Alex before I came in. I felt and always saw he could be dangerous in the middle of the pitch… the rest is him. I just want more from him because of what he’s got attribute wise,” Lampard said at the team’s press conference.

The former Chelsea manager also hinted that contract talks with Iwobi are at an advanced stage.

“I know that Kevin Thelwell is speaking with Alex’s people on that front so we’ll see how that one develops”