Sean Dyche hails 'self-critical' Everton star now shining in a new role
Dwight McNeil has shone for the Toffees in the early part of the season, being handed a new role in midfield by boss Sean Dyche and scoring twice in the win over Crystal Palace last weekend
by Chris McKenna · The MirrorSean Dyche believes Dwight McNeil is a better player when he’s got a smile on his face.
The Everton winger has four goals and two assists in all competitions so far in what has been a very bright start to the season. Toffees boss Dyche obviously knows the former Manchester United academy player well having worked with him at Burnley, too.
McNeil, 24, has held talks with Dyche to ensure they’re getting the best out of him and his two-goal show against Crystal Palace last week got them their first league win of the season. Dyche reckons his better form is down to the player not being too hard on himself when things don’t go right.
“It softens a little bit with age but it is still something I speak to him about,” said the Everton boss. “The principles of what he does, not just the play. How are you responding to the setbacks? How do you respond to the image you present on a football pitch?
“Look at the top players, elite players, it is very rare they become affected. I spoke to him about that. If it doesn’t work for him, he needs to do what the team needs and play a role.
“Dwight is one of them players, because he is so good technically and with the ball, if he does not score or assist, he does not feel he has contributed.
“And he puts a lot of pressure on himself if he has not done that. But we assure him he has contributed a lot to the team, it cannot be your day every time.
“As he matures as a player, he is still self-critical but it is beginning to unravel a bit more. I tell him to play with a smile on his face. If it turns into a grimace, you can feel it on him, it comes out of him.”
Everton, who host Newcastle in Saturday’s tea-time kick-off, will be hoping McNeil can continue to play with that freedom after impressing in a No 10 role against Palace.
“We played him there at Burnley in a few games,” said Dyche. “We motioned towards it here but he was doing such a good job out wide, his production from when we first came in until the end of that season.
“We have had ideas about it, thought about it, how can we make it operate? Because he still has to learn the role, don't forget.”
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