Tyrique George knows his Everton statistics do not tell the full story of his time on Merseyside. The winger ended his loan spell without a goal or an assist across the 11 appearances he made under David Moyes last season.
He is content that is not a fair reflection of the impact he had - a belief backed up by Everton’s willingness to spend an initial £18m on ensuring he returned to the club this summer. Now he wants to repay that faith.
Missed Chances and Near Misses
The Blues' season ended in disappointment as the club finished winless in the last six. It would not have taken much for the story to have been different, for the team and George, though. Had his team-mates taken any of the glorious chances he laid on for them against West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Sunderland, the England Under-21 international would have spent the summer hailed as the creative genius who helped Everton qualify for Europe.
One of the final acts of the season saw the 20-year-old denied a stoppage time equaliser and first goal in Royal Blue by a sublime Antonin Kinsky save at Tottenham Hotspur.
Reflecting on those moments, George told the ECHO: “That’s football isn’t it? I was so close to getting the stats and even though they don’t show it, if you watched the games you would have seen that I had those moments. It was just unfortunate.”
Return to Everton
The curling strike from the corner of the box that was tipped away by Kinsky was George’s highlight across his 11 appearances for the Blues last season - on the pitch, at least. He settled quickly off it, making the decision to return an easy one.
When he said his farewells after Spurs, George had no idea what awaited him this summer. He said: “I wasn't really too sure. I was just waiting. When I was told I could come back I just wanted to come back because I love the club, it’s a great club. Everyone was just so welcoming and really nice. I loved it when I was on the pitch, I enjoyed myself... I wanted to come back. I just thought it would be the right environment for me to come to.”
Moyes was clear at the end of the campaign that he was open to signing George on a permanent deal, depending on the cost. Everton opted to negotiate with Chelsea rather than take up the option to buy him that was contained in the original loan agreement. Stamford Bridge chiefs agreed and a deal that could eventually rise to £24m was struck.
Pre-Season Ambitions
George was on holiday in Mykonos when it was agreed - hence his post-signing photoshoot not taking place until a few days after the move had been announced. His ambition now is to break into the first team. He only started once last season but was in the first XI for the pre-season opener against Dundee, playing the first half on the left wing before starting the second half up front.
George believes he is best out wide, particularly when he can link up with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who he has a good understanding with after their time together at Chelsea. He is set to get plenty of chances over the coming weeks and, looking ahead to that challenge, he said: “That's the motive of any young player, to break into the team. I'm really excited. It's been a great week in Scotland. I have been working hard, trying to keep fit. It was a good run out [against Dundee] and I had some good moments. The team obviously won, which is good. It's just trying to make an impact for the manager.”
