‘Not many can’: Everton hero hails FA Cup feat of £20m star vs Man Utd

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Everton hero Alan Stubbs has praised Ben Godfrey for tracking Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford. The defender impressed despite his side losing in the FA Cup this Friday.

The Red Devils claimed a 3-1 win to book a place in the fourth round through Antony (4’), a Conor Coady own goal (52’) and a penalty by Rashford (90+7’). Coady (15’) had got Everton level at 1-1 before finding his own net. He benefited from a huge mistake by David de Gea.

Everton are now without a win in eight games across all competitions and have won one of their last 12. Frank Lampard’s team are also out of both cup competitions after losing away to AFC Bournemouth in the EFL Cup. The Cherries won 4-1 in the third-round in November.

Lampard started with three centre-halves to try and secure Everton a result at Manchester United in the FA Cup. James Tarkowski started beside Coady and Godfrey in a five-man line with Vitalii Mykolenko and Seamus Coleman. It was only Godfrey’s fourth outing this term.

Godfrey returned to fitness following the World Cup break having missed the previous four months. The £20m star needed surgery in August after fracturing his fibula in their Premier League season-opener at home to Chelsea. He made his first start since on New Year’s Eve.

Godfrey impressed Everton hero Stubbs against Manchester United’s Rashford

Lampard has limited Godfrey’s minutes as he returns to full fitness after a lengthy absence for Everton. He played the final 14 minutes of their Boxing Day defeat at home to Wolves before starting a 1-1 draw at Manchester City. He did not play in their 4-1 loss to Brighton.

But Lampard saw fit to use Godfrey when Everton visited Manchester United in the FA Cup this Friday. And despite the Toffees going on to lose 3-1, the two-cap England international impressed ex-Blues captain Stubbs with his ability to track Three Lions star Rashford back.

“Fantastic recovery run from Ben Godfrey,” he told BBC Radio Merseyside. “Not many can catch Marcus Rashford when he is in full flow and then a perfectly timed tackle, as well.”