Everton boss Koeman delighted with Davies contribution

Tom Davies has made quite an impression at Everton this season and manager Ronald Koeman hailed the midfielder’s latest contribution after he helped secure a 2-0 win at Leicester on Boxing Day.

Koeman’s side were 1-0 up, courtesy of Kevin Mirallas’ opener, when the Dutchman brought on Davies in place of the experienced Gareth Barry.

The 18-year-old impressed – plugging holes and denying Leicester time and space as they searched for a way back into the game – before Romelu Lukaku’s late goal sealed Everton’s win.

Davies has caught Koeman’s eye at Goodison Park, featuring in wins against Stoke and Sunderland, as well as the heavy 5-0 loss to Chelsea.

Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images

And the Toffees boss insists he was key to Everton’s seventh Premier League win of the campaign.

“For young players, normally you need to give them a comfortable situation [in which to come on],” he said.

“Everybody knows it’s difficult for young players to make the breakthrough into the first team. He’s already come on against Chelsea, but it was a really disappointing result at that moment.

“Here, though, we were 1-0 up and he was the strong player that we needed in midfield.

“That’s what we needed at that time in the game.”