For a player whose career looked, at least from the outside, to be going nowhere fast at the start of the season, Everton’s Alex Iwobi’s turnaround has been especially pleasing.
It can be marked down to his versatility, added to a timely switch in position by Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Watching Iwobi turn in that exquisite opening goal on Tuesday against Wolves must have come as a welcome boost, not just to the player but also to his fans.
🤙 | BIG goal from BIG17! 🇳🇬@alexiwobi #WOLEVE pic.twitter.com/bSObHve9Bs
— Everton (@Everton) January 12, 2021
It was his first league goal of the season, so one swallow does not a summer make, but it encapsulated everything about not just the Nigerian’s game, and his growing confidence.
From his wide position as a wingback, Iwobi received the ball, touched it to James Rodrigues, and then continued his run into the box in anticipation.
Rodrigues’ long diagonal to Lucas Digne was also cut back first time into the path of the arriving Iwobi, who side footed, again with one touch, past the Wolves defence and goalkeeper.
It was an elegant team goal, but one that also showed off what Iwobi is capable of. His ghosting movement into the box after Rodrigues played the ball out wide to Digne caught the Wolves defence by surprise.
