I spoke to emotional Everton hero at scene of breakthrough

I spoke to emotional Everton hero at scene of breakthrough as career comes full circle

Everton FC correspondent Joe Thomas uses this week's Royal Blue column to reflect on the club's last trip to Southampton - and what it meant for a player who was struggling for confidence but has since grown to become a star

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"That's all I want to do is just play, and I was happy to be in that starting eleven." Those were the words of Dwight McNeil, just over two years ago, as he reflected with me on his first goal for Everton.

He was still riding the crest of an emotional wave and it was clear his mind was racing as we chatted outside the players’ entrance to St Mary’s. Moments earlier, I had been sat on the ground outside frantically trying to make sense of Everton’s sunshine victory on the south coast.

Then McNeil stepped out and tried to make sense of his own thoughts after what had been a really tough start to life at Everton for the then 22-year-old.

“What a feelinggg”, he later wrote on an Instagram profile that had erupted with followers after his move from Burnley months earlier. James Tarkowski, who made the same journey that summer, had experienced a similar crescendo of interest.

The intensity of the support fuelled a desire to make an impression and, for McNeil, doing so was initially tough.

“My first Prem goal for the Toffees, absolutely buzzing”, he continued. “The last few months have been hard both physically and mentally, I have pushed myself to improve and build my confidence and I hope that showed to the fans today. Back to back wins. LETS GOOO.”

McNeil only discovered he was starting that trip to Southampton earlier on the day, the winger replacing Anthony Gordon in the starting line-up. Gordon had built a strong relationship with Frank Lampard and had started the season in form after a summer that ended with Chelsea’s high-profile, though unsuccessful, pursuit of him.

Against that backdrop, McNeil had struggled to find a foothold. But that afternoon, as I spoke with him, he felt he had finally arrived.

A lot has happened since then. Almost all of it has been tough. A season that at that point appeared so full of promise disintegrated into catastrophe. Lampard’s reign had a few more weeks that inspired genuine hope of better days to come - the comfortable win at home to Crystal Palace later that same October the zenith of his time at Everton.

But hope collapsed into crises and Everton, 23 months later, have only just caught sight of the light at the end of the tunnel.

In spite of all that, McNeil’s star has risen. Through so many difficult times he has been an inspiration on the pitch and in the stands. He is perhaps not given enough credit for just how important he has been in Everton’s survival efforts. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has had the big goals - against Crystal Palace and Liverpool. Jordan Pickford has made the big saves - too many standout performances to reel off here. But McNeil has quietly gone about his work.

It may have taken the arrival of Sean Dyche, the manager who gave him his senior debut, to properly kickstart his career at Everton. He has some highlight reel though.

His 13 Premier League goals for the Blues have been as spectacular as they have been important. Think that first minute stunner in the win Everton really needed against Brentford, the incredible hat-trick at Brighton and Hove Albion, and the brutality of the hit that started the thrashing of Newcastle United last season. He has also been crucial to the brutal effectiveness of the Dyche machine - how crucial those deep, inswinging corners to the back post have been for a team that hasn’t always shone in front of goal.

This season, McNeil has stepped up further. There is intense debate about whether the central role he has been given is the right one for him - hands up, I am among those who believe, contrary to Dyche, that McNeil’s best place is on the left and that swapping him with Iliman Ndiaye would help both players and the team.

But regardless of where anyone sits in that debate, it is not the story of McNeil’s season so far, one that is instead littered with glittering efforts against Palace and Aston Villa and a production line of assists. His stats are good but would be better if more of his intricate passes had been finished off by their recipients.

It has been some journey for a player who is intensely self-critical but who club captain Seamus Coleman has hailed as a growing leader in the dressing room.

Dyche recently said of him: “He's beginning to unravel it a little bit more and just be a little bit more relaxed about his own criticism.

“I always say to him, play with a smile on your face. When you're smiling and you’re playing football, you're in good shape. If it turns into a grimace you can feel it on him, it comes out of him, so I say just play with a smile.”

It was two years ago, at Southampton, when McNeil had his Everton breakthrough moment. Injury may rule him out on Everton’s first return since then. But it is an occasion that deserves a pause to consider McNeil’s growing influence, and where it all started.

Supporters get Goodison treat ahead of historic double header

There were lovely scenes at Goodison Park this week when a group of 10 Everton Women's Supporters Club members were given a night to remember at the Grand Old Lady.

Believing they were simply being given a tour by the club’s technical partner Castore, they were surprised with an introduction to Blues skipper Megan Finnegan and goalkeeper Emily Ramsey.

The pair were keen to mark the historic forthcoming double-header at Goodison against Chelsea and Liverpool on November 3 and 17, and they posed for pictures and chatted with the supporters to provide them with a memorable experience.

Making the night even more special, the supporters were told they would be able to watch the women’s game against Chelsea from an executive box.

The generosity came as excitement continues to grow for the landmark double header. Megan said: "With it being the last season at Goodison we hoped there would be one opportunity for us to play here, but to learn we'd get two chances was wonderful. And with the Chelsea game being under the floodlights it makes it even more special. We love playing at Goodison."

Julie Makin, chair of the Everton Women’s Supporters’ Club said: “This was a humbling experience and I am so grateful to Megan and Emily and Castore. We thought we were coming on a tour to celebrate the remaining time we have left at Goodison and it was a surprise that Megan and Emily were there waiting for us.

“I know the group can’t wait until the Chelsea game on Sunday and the special experience we will have as well as the final Goodison WSL Merseyside derby later in November. As always we’ll be right behind the girls cheering them on.”

Everton Women face Chelsea on Sunday, November 3 (6.45pm KO), with the Merseyside derby on Sunday, November 17 (3pm KO). Tickets are available here

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