Frank Lampard would not have enjoyed facing Alex Iwobi in a midfield battle during his playing career.
The Blues boss has credited the 26-year-old with having the ability to turn and play in both directions, "boundless energy", and vision - all attributes that make him tough to play against. Such glowing praise, from one of the greatest centre-midfielders of the Premier League era, is the latest recognition of Iwobi's impressive start to the season.
Speaking after another all-action performance against Southampton, in which Iwobi provided the assist for Dwight McNeil's match-winner but was also a defensive force, Lampard also offered insight into what he believes to be the Nigeria international's best position. While his Everton renaissance was built covering as a wing-back, for Lampard, it was the glimpses in a number eight role that excited him most.
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Iwobi has been one of the Blues' most impressive performers so far this season and it is no surprise initial talks have been opened on a new contract. Moved into central midfield for the pre-season friendly against Dynamo Kyiv out of necessity, he has made that position his own despite the recovery from injury of other players and the arrival of three central midfielders in the summer transfer window.
It is the latest stage of his revival at Everton. Having cost an initial £28m and struggled as the club changed direction as it lurched between managers and directors of football, Iwobi was maligned as an example of the excess of the early years under majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri. Everything then changed in January. His red card for Nigeria as they were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations was a nadir that sparked reflection, he told the ECHO during the club's pre-season tour of the US. Family and friends were crucial to what happened next but so were the events unfolding at Goodison Park. Just days after the red card, Lampard took over at the Blues. Lampard and his dressing room staff were crucial to Iwobi's rejuvenation as he emerged as one of few bright sparks amid the depths of the relegation battle.
Iwobi won the support of fans largely through his lung-busting and battling efforts covering as a right-wing-back. It was a position - and a situation - that may have hindered Iwobi's ability to be creative but allowed his drive, determination and courage to come to the fore. Lampard was most impressed by what he saw when he asked Iwobi to play in the middle, though. He burst through the centre of the pitch when he scored the 99th-minute winner against Newcastle United that sent Goodison into wild celebration, the victory offering what would eventually be shown as false hope that Everton's nerves would not be pushed right to the wire.
Lampard explained: "He did a lot for us last season but he played some games at number eight and I really liked him. I felt it suited his talent in terms of strength, quality of pass, he can go either way on players and I think sometimes on the wing that is restricted because you can't go either way when you are on the line in midfield. There are so many talents that I would have not liked to have played against as a midfield player so and then it's just the consistency."
Iwobi has found that consistency this season. Given the chance in central midfield, he has been a pillar of stability while the rest of the midfield has been built around him. Iwobi has started every game this season, the one constant in the centre of the pitch and already present when Amadou Onana was added to the squad after the Chelsea match, as Tom Davies returned from an injury and Abdoulaye Doucoure was lost to one, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Andre Gomes and Dele Alli departed on loan and Idrissa Gueye and James Garner landed on transfer deadline day - which, of course, came after the Premier League season was already five games old. Allan has since left on a permanent deal.
Responding to the faith shown in him, Iwobi has excelled. At St Mary's on Saturday his stand-out moment was the cross that set up McNeil. He found himself on the edge of the box through perhaps his greatest attribute, his stamina, as he fought to be involved in a blistering counter-attack. That fitness was on show when he made important interventions in the stoppage=time of both halves. His 'heat map' from the game is the definition of 'box-to-box' and on top of his assist he made 13 ball recoveries and was a constant menace to Southampton players when in possession, often breaking from midfield to lead the press. Statistics compiled by data analysis profile @greenallefc and shared on Twitter show, over the course of this season, Iwobi has led the side for progressive passes per 90 minutes while also being one of the most prominent for tackles and interceptions per match.
The goal Lampard has now set for Iwobi is to add more goals and assists. Iwobi has been a creative force this season - only Kevin de Bruyne and Bruno Fernandes have played more through balls than him - but with Dominic Calvert-Lewin out through injury Everton have lacked a clinical finisher to convert the chances that have been created. Now he is in a more settled side and has greater protection for forward bursts with the addition of Gueye - who played notably deeper than Iwobi and Onana on Saturday - they may well come.
The Blues are increasingly being set up in a way that suits Iwobi's game, rather than him having to adapt to tactics stifled by injuries and a need for pragmatism. That should help. Lampard explained: "The system I think is helping him, is suiting him, to have a number six behind him, freedom to arrive in the middle, use his energy which is boundless - he can run and run. At the minute he is playing with absolute consistency. The next question is can he get higher up the pitch and be more effective in the final third. When I say that it's assists, which I think he gets [at Southampton] with the second goal, but also goals. He has definitely got that in his game. He has been a dream to manage because his personality is so low maintenance and he performs."
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