David Unsworth immediately recalled Aaron Lennon and Kevin Mirallas for Everton’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.
David Unsworth may have lost his first game in charge of Everton, but last night’s 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Chelsea was a decent audition for the permanent manager’s job.
As Sky Sports reports, caretaker boss Unsworth has made no secret about his desire to take over on a full-time basis after Ronald Koeman paid the price for Everton’s poor start to the season.
Unsworth’s team selection at Stamford Bridge showed that he has already identified some shortcomings of Koeman’s team.
The 44-year-old immediately handed recalls to Kevin Mirallas and Aaron Lennon, who have not made a single Premier League start between them this season.
Everton’s early-season performances were desperately devoid of pace and width, which Mirallas and Lennon provide in abundance.
If Unsworth sticks with the wingers for Sunday’s trip to Leicester City, that should also help bring out the best in Gylfi Sigurdsson.
The summer signing was left on the bench against Chelsea, likely rested, and will benefit from being played in his natural No.10 position now that Unsworth has reverted to genuine wingers.
Sigurdsson is they key to getting Everton playing and Mirallas and Lennon could stretch the pitch to provide him with the space he needs to repeat his number of nine goals and 13 assists for Swansea City last season.
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