Leon Osman Can Prove Vitality During Everton Injury Crisis
With Everton currently facing somewhat of an injury crisis in their midfield ranks, veteran midfielder Leon Osman must take this opportunity to prove his continued worth to Roberto Martinez’s first team.
The Everton No. 21, now 33 years old, will make his 400th appearance for the Toffees when he his next called upon by the savvy Spaniard, according to Ian Doyle of the Liverpool Echo.
While Everton’s squad has been moulded over the years to suit various managers’ requirements, be it David Moyes’ stability or Martinez’s attacking thrust, Osman has remained a constant.
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Having joined the club at academy level, only loan spells at Carlisle United and Derby County have broken Osman’s loyal run at Goodison Park.
At this juncture however, Osman is no longer his manager’s first choice in midfield, but injuries to regular feature Gareth Barry, along with knocks to James McCarthy and potential deputy Darren Gibson, could see the Englishman deployed in their stead.
Barry, per The Guardian, has “no timescale” for his recovery after sustaining ankle ligament damage in the side’s recent 1-1 draw away to Sunderland.
McCarthy and Gibson both pulled out of international duty for the Republic of Ireland with minor injuries.
Everton are set to line up against West Ham United, Spurs, Hull City and Manchester City in what represents a rough two weeks for the side. Potentially being without these midfielders would make this an even tougher task.
Martinez should now look to the dependable and versatile Osman in order to maintain balance in his midfield.
Gareth Barry & James McCarthy
Both signed at the beginning of Martinez’s tenure at Goodison Park, Barry and McCarthy have become arguably the club’s most important players after a long string of consistent performances in the centre of midfield.
With Everton typically lining up with a 4-2-3-1 formation, the contributions of the pair in both recycling possession and shielding the back line are invaluable.
Recently, Martinez compared the efforts of Barry and McCarthy, along with those of Ross Barkley, to legendary Everton midfield trio Colin Harvey, Howard Kendall and Alan Ball.
The Spaniard told EvertonFC.com that “When you talk about the Holy Trinity of Everton in the club’s history—everything revolves around that midfield three.”
Martinez continued, “now we have McCarthy, Barry and Barkley. I am really, really proud of that midfield.”
With Barkley given the freedom to penetrate defences and continue his blossoming partnership with Romelu Lukaku, Barry and McCarthy serve as the diligent midfield engine.
Barry, initially a loan signing but now a permanent member of the Everton ranks, provides defensive stability and a hugely underrated talent in creating from deep. He will take some replacing.
The 33-year-old has made an average of 2.2 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per Premier League game, and he boasts a passing accuracy of 89 per cent.
McCarthy averages 2.9 tackles and 1.7 interceptions, with a passing accuracy of 88.3 per cent, and it is this balance that Everton’s flair players can depend on.
The pair have proven a revelation under Martinez, with Barry an outcast at City and McCarthy previously performing at a much less demanding level with perennial relegation candidates Wigan Athletic. Their loss will be felt hugely.
Leon Osman
In his praise of that midfield trio, however, Martinez acknowledged that he would need to lean on his more peripheral figures at times, opining that “I think the squad is large enough and we have enough quality to cope with many games.”
With the Europa League to also contend with this season, players like Osman have enjoyed game time as a result, and the 33-year-old opened the scoring in the side’s recent 3-0 victory over Lille.
That goal capped the signing of a new one-year contract by the midfielder, and this extension could now prove crucial as Osman could cement a role as Barry and McCarthy recover.
What Everton will lose in the pair’s absence is a formidable bite and a composed stamp on possession.
However, Osman can compensate for this, and he has an average of 0.9 tackles and 0.6 interceptions per game, and a passing accuracy of 87 per cent—it is important to note that these have come from an attacking midfield position.
Furthermore, the No. 21, by all accounts, possesses the mental strength and determination to once more become a mainstay in the Toffees midfield.
Doyle wrote that Osman has “an abundance of character, attitude and a versatility that has made him so valuable.”
Few can match Osman’s loyalty to the Toffees cause since his debut in the 2002/03 season, and this can be a major factor should he be called upon by Martinez.
How Everton Can Line Up
Without Barry, another choice in the Everton midfield could be new signing Muhamed Besic.
Bleacher Report’s Matt Cheetham suggested Besic “has the dynamism and tenacity to shine in this role and offers more in both aspects of the game than any other option available to Martinez.”
While Besic is definitely a prodigious defensive talent, and a player who has all of the qualities to succeed in the Premier League, the Bosnian, at just 22, will take time to develop into a ball-winner of the requisite pedigree.
That has shown as so far the midfielder has made just two starts in the league since his transfer from Ferencvaros in the summer.
Martinez is wise to slowly introduce the midfielder, and the World Cup talent will undoubtedly become a key player in the Everton midfield in years to come—that dynamism paired with McCarthy’s all-round game will be a fearsome prospect.
At 33, Osman will not necessarily be able to endure the rigours of the upcoming congested fixture list, as the struggles of Steven Gerrard in the red half of Merseyside this season can attest to.
Gerrard is one year Osman’s senior and, with the Reds competing in the Champions League this season, is showing signs of wear. Of late, the former England captain has become a target for opposing sides due to his diminishing energy.
Therefore Besic will be an important option, and clearly Martinez will still rotate his squad with care and thorough planning with regards to the challenges ahead.
But for the time being, and in Everton’s more illustrious challenges, Osman should be the man Martinez utilises; Barry’s thriving in experience is testament to this.
As Doyle wrote “Osman shows no signs of stopping just yet.”
Leon Osman has endured many seasons of change at Goodison Park, and this injury-stricken side should now depend on the academy product to once more produce with consistency and determination—the midfielder can prove his vitality.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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