Sean Dyche has been discussing the form of Everton’s ‘unlikely’ heroes Ashley Young, Michael Keane and Beto
Everton manager Sean Dyche has hailed his side’s ‘unlikely’ heroes after substitute Beto headed in a stoppage-time equaliser against Fulham after meeting Ashley Young’s cross. It was Beto’s first Premier League goal since he came off the bench to score at Bournemouth on March 30 in what was his first outing in the competition since another late cameo at Aston Villa on September 14.
Young, who at 39 is now Everton’s oldest ever outfield player, also saw his form scrutinised earlier in this season but his assist came following strong showings against Newcastle United and Ipswich Town to help his side keep back-to-back clean sheets with Michael Keane netting the in latter.
Dyche said: “You’ve got to remember that they’re only unlikely from the outside. The players respect them, I certainly do.
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“It’s no surprise to me over Youngy’s form. He’s mentally as tough a player as I’ve ever seen.
“I’ve told you that at the beginning of the season when he was being questioned. I said: ‘No drama, he understands the nature of the game, he understands if he’s not playing well, he gets a bit and he understands if he is playing well, at least just respect him, which I do.
“So do the players and I think the fans do deep down as well. Keano is another one, he’s played for England, he’s a very good player, it’s just that question marks occur, that’s the way it goes, and I thought he did well again against Fulham.
“Beto is learning and developing. Every time people get asked a question, I remind the players it’s part of your career, you’re professional sportsmen, that’s what I keep telling them.
“Every young player wants to be a footballer but on your passport, it will say ‘professional footballer.’ That’s the difference, it’s a profession, that’s the bit you’ve got to learn.
“Those guys have learned that and sometimes you get the hard bit and sometimes you get the easy bit. But whatever you do, you’ve got to come through it and build your own resilience as well as a team resilience.
“We’re on our way to build that team resilience again, it’s been there before, it’s come away, and now we’re building it again now.”
Lisbon-born Beto, who this month won his first two caps for Guinea-Bissau after switching his international allegiance from Portugal, admitted after his goal that he’s found his recent lack of game time at Everton difficult.
But Dyche acknowledged he wouldn’t expect anything different from anyone in his squad. The Blues boss said: “You want players to want to play, that’s for sure. I’ve never doubted any player wanting to play so the thirst to play and the desire to play is a great thing to have and all he can do is keep playing hard like he did against Fulham.”
