"A really important player for me": Marco Silva delivers gushing verdict on Everton ace

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Marco Silva has praised Theo Walcott for his contributions to the side in recent times, claiming that the Englishman is a “really important player” for Everton.

What did he say?

Walcott has been a shining light this past month in what has been a very dark time for the club. Players across the pitch have failed to pull their weight, and the club have been fighting around the relegation zone ever since.

Walcott once again played a hand in an Everton win, just as he did against West Ham United. His assist for Bernard’s goal against the Hammers and his assist for Holgate against Watford have shown he is a vital man for Silva right now.

The Blues boss said: “Theo had a big impact again, the change we made [Walcott for Kean] had a big impact on our second half,” added Silva.

“Theo was always a really important player for me, he knows that. He is in a good moment and will help us in the next games as well.

“The way we built our attacks [after half-time] was faster and the gaps were clearer. We found the spaces more easily.”

More important than ever

It is easy to justify Walcott’s importance lately, simply by the fact that he has assisted both opening goals in Everton’s last two wins. But now, because of the injury to Bernard, the former Arsenal man is going to be more important than ever for the club.

In the game against Watford on Tuesday, Kean was bringing very little to the side in an unfamiliar wide role. He completed just three passes and never successfully dribbled past a player or created an opportunity. In truth, it was another forgetful performance from the Italian.

However, when he was replaced by Walcott for the second half, the Englishman brought to the pitch speed and more creativity. His assist and two dribble attempts showed more than what Kean gave in the entire first half.

Right now, with the injury to Bernard and the 30-year-old’s creative nature, Walcott is proving to be one of Silva’s most valuable assets in one of the more surprising sub plots to emerge at Goodison Park this season.

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