The Spaniard has silenced any remaining doubters with a superb run of performances between the sticks for Everton.
Rumours linking Everton with a whole host of goalkeepers across the continent just won’t go away. However, thanks to the standout performances of Joel Robles, the need for a new number one is not quite as pressing as it was just a few months ago when Maarten Stekelenberg was plucking balls out of the back of his net with alarming regularity.
Joel, brought to Goodison Park by former Wigan boss Roberto Martinez in 2013, has enjoyed only sporadic stints as the club’s first choice in the last three-and-a-half years – usually coinciding with the regular number one enduring a period of personal difficulty.
However, for the first time in his English football career, the Spaniard appears to have finally put to rest doubts over his reliability. In his ten starts this season, Everton have lost just one game and Joel has kept five clean sheets.
Furthermore, his superb reflex stop to deny Rudy Gestede in the closing stages of Saturday’s goalless draw at the Riverside earned him a Man of the Match award to go alongside another unblemished 90 minutes of action.
However, with his deal due to expire at the end of next season according to the Liverpool Echo, The Toffees must make a decision in the future about their long-term plans. Do they reward Joel’s performances with a new deal and regular starts? Or search for options elsewhere?
The latter could well force the 26-year-old to leave Goodison Park, somewhat unfairly. After all, no goalkeeper wants to be an understudy forever.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
