Has Tom Davies done enough to retain regular Everton spot?

“Rom (Lukaku) is trying to claim it but there’s no way he’s getting that one off me,” Tom Davies told Sky Sports moments after Everton’s comprehensive 4-0 win over Manchester City earlier this month. On his third Premier League start of his career, the teenager burst forward and showed exceptional skill before playing a one-two with Ross Barkley and then dinking delicately over the onrushing Claudio Bravo. As the ball trickled towards the net, Toffees top scorer Romelu Lukaku tried to tap in and claim what would’ve been his 13th Premier League goal of the season. 

Davies was ultimately awarded the goal as he continues his rise to prominence. Of the last six Premier League goals Everton have scored, the 18-year-old has had a direct hand in three, with assists in wins over Southampton and Crystal Palace accompanying his goal in the victory over City. His form this calendar year, even if it is only a small sample size, has returned a WhoScored rating of 7.97, which is the fifth best of players to make more than two Premier League appearances in 2017. 

While supporters are keen to see more academy products in the first team, it’s vital Davies, despite his good form, remains grounded following his full-time promotion to the senior starting XI after a brief flirt with the senior side last season. That being said, it’s difficult for fans to not get excited about Davies’ promotion from the youth side. With James McCarthy and Muhamed Besic sidelined though injury, and Idrissa Gueye participating at the Africa Cup of Nations, Ronald Koeman was in real danger of being left short of central midfield options. 

The trio’s unavailability left Koeman with Gareth Barry as his only deep lying midfield option, which prompted Davies’ inclusion in the Toffees’ starting XI. Even big money arrival Morgan Schneiderlin, whose signing swelled Everton’s midfield ranks, is struggling to force his way into the side, with his two Premier League appearances for the Toffees coming from the bench. Granted, Koeman could well be biding his time and integrating Schneiderlin slowly rather than throwing him in at the deep end, but it says plenty about Davies that’s he’s holding down a spot in the first team at the France international’s expense. 

Everton have kept just seven clean sheets in the Premier League this season, three of which have come in the games Davies has started, which is no coincidence. Indeed, 2.3 tackles per 90 is the fifth best return of Everton players to make five or more Premier League appearances this season. His tenacity in the middle of the park helps ease pressure on the Everton goal, which is coming as a boost to an Everton side in the pursuit of European football. This facet is particularly essential in the wake of Gueye’s unavailability. The Senegal star has quickly become a favourite at Goodison Park, so his participation in Gabon was always going to hinder the Toffees. 

In Davies, though, Koeman has a player capable of harassing opponents in pursuit of possession. While the youngster won’t stamp his mark on a game similar to Gueye, it’s still a boost to the Everton boss that he can call on Davies to temporarily fill the void the 27-year-old has left. Conversely, the energy he injects into the midfield allows the England U19 international to break forward from deep to help drive Everton forward from midfield when Gueye is less effective. 

Of Everton players to make more than five top-flight appearances this term, only the recently departed Gerard Deulofeu (3.9) and the injured Yannick Bolasie (3.2) are completing more dribbles per 90 than Davies (2.3). This not only helps ease pressure on the Everton backline, but adds another dimension to the Toffees attack as he breaks forward with aplomb from deep to capitalise on the space in the middle of the park. This was evident on Saturday as Davies showed great composure to pick out Seamus Coleman in space in the penalty area to fire past Wayne Hennessey after regaining possession deep in Palace territory. 

A player his age and in his position may have been tempted to go for goal after scoring in the Premier League for the first time against Manchester City, but he instead selflessly picked the right pass for Coleman as the Toffees secured a hard-fought three points. Davies isn’t adverse to performing in pressure-cooker situations having captained England U17s at the 2015 World Cup in Chile. With England and Chile drawing blanks, the encounter went to extra time and penalties. Davies stepped up and with the noise deafening as the hosts looked to put the young midfielder off his stride, he duly dispatched his spot kick to silence the crowd. 

It speaks volumes of the young player, who is only going from strength to strength. Regular first team action is a boost to his development, though it remains to be seen how frequently he will feature from the off once Gueye returns from international duty. Nevertheless, Davies has proven how capable a performer he is for the Toffees as he took his chance to impress with both hands.