The 22-year-old has struggled for his best form at Everton.
Don Hutchison has admitted to Bwin Sport that he worries for Everton star Ross Barkley in a number 10 role.
The 22-year-old has emerged as one of Everton’s best players in recent years following a strong few seasons on Merseyside, which has seen him break into the England setup.
But his form has been up and down for much of the calendar year, indicated by his lack of action for the Three Lions in France during Euro 2016 this past summer.
He has struggled to do the business for club and country, but it is not a question about his talent, considering he has done superbly for both in the not too distant past.
So much of his Everton career has spent in a number 10 role, behind the main striker, but Hutchison feels that he becomes less suited to such a position with the more that he develops.
Physically, Barkley is a more impressive specimen than many playmakers in the Premier League, and the ex-Scotland international believes that his long-term future lies in a deeper midfield role.
“In terms of his long-term development, I worry about Barkley’s size,” Hutchison, who spent two years at Everton, told Bwin Sport.
“If you look at all the great number 10s around the world, the likes of David Silva, Philippe Coutinho and Dimitri Payet, all have a low centre of gravity, they turn on a sixpence and I think that’s a big ask for a lad who is tall and muscular like Ross is.
“I think his future lies a little bit deeper at Everton, he could play as a deep-lying playmaker and do more.”
That isn’t to say that Barkley isn’t a very fine ball player, because he is, but he seems to be growing less and less influential as a rigid playmaker, and perhaps manager Ronald Koeman should modify his role to suit Barkley and Everton.
Everton’s Ross Barkley in action with Middlesbrough’s Daniel Ayala
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
