Tyrique George has been leaving his Everton teammates in his wake during training, with Merlin Rohl admitting he often begs the winger to “go easy, please”.
George completed a permanent move from Chelsea this month after a loan spell on Merseyside. The 20-year-old England Under-21 international wants to break into David Moyes’ starting XI for the new campaign.
Training ground torment
Rohl, who frequently faces George as a makeshift right-back in training, says the winger’s one-on-one ability is exceptional. “I think we all know about Tyrique’s capabilities in a one-on-one. I used to feel it a little bit more in training when I'm on right-back. I always tell him: ‘Go easy, please.’”
The central midfielder added: “I think it's the best training you can have at right-back, to go against someone like Tyrique, who is so good at unbalancing you. His movements are so sharp. That's very nice to see. I wish him all the best to keep going and implement it in the games, because I think really highly of him.”
Underwhelming stats, promising signs
George did not provide a goal or an assist in 11 appearances for Everton last season, earning just one start. However, he created several golden chances that teammates missed and was denied a first goal by a stunning save from Antonin Kinsky at Tottenham Hotspur.
Everton supporters will hope to see more from the £18m summer signing when the season starts against Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium next month.
Rohl's own move and midfield cover
Rohl’s loan from Freiburg was made permanent for £18m, a deal Everton were obliged to complete after avoiding relegation. The 24-year-old moved into midfield for the second half of the goalless friendly draw at Bolton Wanderers and may be needed there as James Garner recovers from groin surgery, facing a battle to be fit for the start of the campaign.
Asked how Everton are shaping up, Rohl said: “Very well. Everyone is working very, very hard in the pre-season. It's a little bit different to a pre-season in Germany. It's a lot harder, a lot tougher. Here in England, it's a lot tougher. It's more physical. Everything is more physical here. You have the games that are more physical, so you need to prepare your body to be ready for the physical games. In Germany, maybe the training isn’t as physical as here. I think you just try to prepare as well as possible. I really enjoy all the hard work, but sometimes you're a little tired.”
