Tyler Dibling says feeling settled at Everton is helping him show what he can do after his man-of-the-match performance against Wolves.
The 20-year-old produced arguably his best display for the club in Wednesday night’s 1-0 Carabao Cup win at the Hill Dickinson, setting up Carlos Alcaraz for the winner with ten minutes remaining.
Speaking to Everton’s own media afterwards, Dibling said life off the pitch now feels much easier too.
“I’ve got a lot of mates in the group now, and I’m settled. I like coming into training, and it’s just easier, so obviously that shows on the pitch. I had a good pre-season and tonight was good. I definitely feel the support from fans, too. I hear them when I’m playing, especially when they’re close to me, and it’s good support.”
Dibling feeling at home with Everton
There was plenty of that support on Wednesday night. Dibling’s assist ultimately decided the game, but one of the loudest reactions to his performance came earlier when he raced back to stop a Wolves counter-attack with a perfectly timed tackle.
It was the sort of moment Evertonians tend to appreciate and, judging by Dibling’s comments, he heard their approval. His words also fit with what Alan Irvine said after the game. The Everton assistant manager described Dibling as a quiet young player who found his first season at the club difficult, but said he had returned for pre-season looking far more comfortable.
Dibling feels the difference himself. He also told Everton’s media that he is playing with more confidence and demanding more of himself, while at the same time being less hard on himself when things go wrong.
That looked evident against Wolves. There were good moments on the ball, the assist for Alcaraz and plenty of willingness to work without it. Dibling still has work to do to force his way into David Moyes’ Premier League side regularly, but Wednesday felt significant.
More importantly, perhaps, he now sounds like a young player who feels at home.
