Christian Norgaard's return to training at Finch Farm has been welcomed, with the £7m summer signing expected to bring experience and steel to Everton's midfield once he is fit. However, he faces competition in the squad's most competitive area, with David Moyes having a wealth of central midfield options.
As Norgaard and fellow midfielder Merlin Rohl work towards fitness ahead of the trip to Hull City next month, the ECHO's Blues reporters have assessed what Everton's first-choice central midfield should look like.
Norgaard's role in midfield
Joe Thomas believes Norgaard should not head straight into the starting XI once fit, but once he has caught up with match fitness, he would be in his first-choice midfield. Thomas was pleased when interest in the 32-year-old emerged during pre-season in Hamburg, describing the addition as one that makes sense.
Thomas argues Everton have lacked a pure defensive midfielder for some time, which he says is one reason they have struggled to defend in transition. Idrissa Gueye was excellent as a combative, ball-winning pressing player, but he went in search of the ball. Norgaard should provide a calm, disciplined shield in front of the defence, allowing those around him more freedom.
Preferred midfield trio
Thomas would pair Norgaard with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and James Garner, both of whom he believes operate best as number 8s. Dewsbury-Hall is skilled at carrying the ball from deep, while Garner's end product can be excellent. That trio would be his first choice if everyone is fit.
That is tough on Harrison Armstrong, who has been brilliant, and Hayden Hackney, who has looked good in his opportunities. But Norgaard should benefit them both, giving them an experienced figure to learn from and allowing rotation to protect the engine room from being over-worked. Rohl is another option in this area, and the players available to Moyes should allow him to make use of his versatility.
Armstrong's opportunity
Chris Beesley draws a parallel with baseball player Wally Pipp, who lost his position to Lou Gehrig in 1925 and never got it back. While things haven't reached those proportions at Everton, Norgaard's false start has presented Harrison Armstrong with a huge chance, which the home-grown hero has grabbed with both hands.
The former Denmark international is still yet to make his debut after his transfer from Arsenal almost two months ago. Even though he is now on the comeback trail, with footage showing him scoring in training, Norgaard has still got everything to prove. When he quit the Premier League champions after a solitary season at the Emirates Stadium, he appeared a natural fit as a replacement for Idrissa Gueye.
However, Armstrong has fitted into the side seamlessly, featuring in all but three minutes of Premier League action this term, even when he was taken off towards the end of the 1-1 draw at Bournemouth. Nottingham Forest had advanced a proposed £40million transfer for him at the time.
The shirt is Armstrong's to lose, and at present it is him, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and James Garner – with the Blues' reigning Player of the Season still shaking off the rust after recovering from a hernia operation – who have to be considered the first-choice options for now in Beesley's eyes. Add Hayden Hackney, who has made a promising start to life in the top flight, into the mix and Norgaard has got a fight on his hands to work his way back in.
