Tom Davies steps up to finally answer troubling Everton question

Royal Blue: Carlo Ancelotti on Everton going second in the table with Manchester City up next

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When Allan was stretchered off against Leicester City, there was a certain amount of concern among Everton fans watching from their respective homes.

Not only had the Brazilian been one of their side’s best players on the day in question, but he had already established himself as a key member of the squad following his move from Napoli in the summer.

Without him in the side, especially in a new system the Blues had already found success in, how would Carlo Ancelotti’s side be able to cope?

Tom Davies was given his chance to show what he was capable of against Arsenal, whilst Andre Gomes got his opportunity to impress in that role against Manchester United.

Before the Boxing Day game against Sheffield United, it seemed that neither had definitively grabbed the bull by the horns and really secured their position in the side on that front.

However, following this match, Davies may well have done just that.

There has been a debate for some time now over how the midfielder fits into the Everton side. What is his best position? What are his defining qualities?

In October the man himself addressed the debate, including the option of playing in a holding midfield role as he has done on several occasions recently for England’s under-21 setup in particular.

He said at that time: “I don’t mind playing the holding role either. I’ve played that role for the u-21s, for Everton, and I enjoy breaking the game up and getting on the ball. You need to be playing other positions, to provide options.

“I see myself as a box to box midfielder, but you have to know all the positions, because a player has got to have all aspects to his game.”

Saturday evening’s game was a great example of Davies showing the qualities he needs to step into that important role in the middle of the pitch.

From the first few minutes of the match, while teammates around him were sloppy and perhaps lacking in some sharpness after a draining few months – the 22-year-old couldn’t have looked more different.

He was always finding the space, showing for the ball from his centre backs, and was confidently able to turn into space on multiple occasions.

From there, he was able to carry the ball well, he was able to find his teammates with accuracy and precision.

Some more ambitious, long-range passes didn’t come off – but in the first half Davies seemed the only player in royal blue intent on even attempting them to try and break down the hosts.

He made more accurate passes than any Everton player barring Yerry Mina, which shows in a sense how much his side were relying on him to pull the strings in the middle. His 73 touches of the ball were only behind the Colombia international and Mason Holgate.

Defensively, Davies was right on his game as well. He won two aerial duels, made one tackle and provided at least one telling block on the edge of his box to keep Sheffield United at bay.

When the 22-year-old was taken off in the 74th minute, he could probably count himself a little unlucky. You could argue he was the best player on the pitch at that time, never mind just in an Everton shirt.

In a vital position on the pitch, with a key player out of action through injury, Ancelotti needed Davies to step up and prove himself.

He certainly did that, and perhaps finally showed what his best position in this side really is.