Hayden Hackney has found minutes hard to come by since joining Everton, but his outstanding performance against Newcastle might have just earned him David Moyes’ trust.
David Moyes’ delight couldn’t be disguised as he watched Everton beat Newcastle 3-1 on Thursday night at the Hill Dickinson Stadium to secure a quarter-final place against Fleetwood Town.
It was a statement win for the Toffees, in which Thierno Barry was so impressive for Everton. But the talisman wasn’t actually the most eye-catching performer in royal blue; that was Hayden Hackney, as he grabbed his chance to impress with both hands.
Hayden Hackney responds to David Moyes’ patience urge
Everton fans have been asking to see more of Hackney this season, which Moyes hasn’t exactly been quick to give supporters. Moyes urged Hackney to be patient, explaining how the likes of Tim Cahill also took time to earn his faith.
“My history would suggest – Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, Tim Cahill – all those ones who came in might’ve had to wait a bit of time before they became first-team regulars.
“I’m not saying these players have to do that. But hopefully, they develop as well as those boys did.”
Well, that patience may now have worn thin as Hackney blew the doors off against Newcastle with a goal and an assist to complement his stellar showing as he staked his claim to start more games going forward.
Statistic Hackney Vs. Newcastle
Goals 1
Assists 1
Touches 38
Dribbles 1
Fouls won 3
Defensive contributions 6
Ground duels won 6/13
It wasn’t just a goal and assist. Hackney worked relentlessly, got up and down the pitch, involved in a whopping nine fouls, which showed just how involved he was in the middle of the pitch, disrupting play.
The argument for Hackney to start on Monday
Hackney had to play well on this rare start, and he will have given Moyes a headache in terms of selection for Monday’s Premier League visit to St James’ Park against Newcastle.
Confidence will be high after beating them 3-1, and Hackney was one of the best parts of Everton’s performance, so taking him out of the team won’t be a decision Moyes takes lightly.
Hackney faces direct competition with Harrison Armstrong for that third midfielder role alongside James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, which is a battle between two of the best young midfielders in the country.
Hackney and Armstrong are England U21 rivals as well, but the former’s performance against Newcastle should see him start the fixture on Monday, for one pretty clear reason, which is the impact he had in the final third.
Goals and a lack of them have been Everton’s biggest issue this season, with Thierno Barry doing well but often isolated; it wasn’t the case against Newcastle. Hackney was getting forward close to Barry and using his own physicality and size to draw focus and make things happen.
It made Barry better, and it made Everton far more threatening in the final third. This makes the case for Hackney to start pretty simple; he brought exactly what Moyes has needed, and to take him out would be counter-productive, especially against the same opposition.
