Lampard: Iwobi’s versatility made him invaluable at Everton

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard has praised Alex Iwobi’s adaptability and work ethic, saying the Nigeria international was capable of performing at a high level in any position during their time together at Everton.

Iwobi played a key role under Lampard, making 40 appearances in all competitions and contributing to 11 goals. He operated mainly in midfield during that period after joining Everton from Arsenal in the summer of 2019.

The move to Everton had initially proved difficult for Iwobi, but his performances improved while Lampard was in charge. Speaking at Coventry’s pre-match press conference on Thursday, Lampard said the midfielder’s quality was evident in training, alongside his consistency and approach to his work.

Lampard was responding to Iwobi’s recent comment that the former England midfielder had “resurrected” his career at Everton.

“Resurrecting seems too strong, but I’ll let him say those words because he was always a good player, maybe in a tough moment at Everton,” Lampard said.

“The time when I came in, it was a tough moment for the club. I just talked about value in training with the players, to get yourself in the team, and quite quickly at Everton, it was clear Alex’s quality in training, work ethic and consistency in it was a very high level.”

Iwobi’s ability to switch positions became particularly valuable as Everton fought to avoid relegation. Lampard said the midfielder could be trusted to fulfil whatever role the team required without his performance level dropping.

“He is also a very versatile player, so he worked in times of desperate need. When we were battling relegation, Alex could play any role and play at a really high level,” Lampard said.

The Coventry manager also pointed to qualities beyond Iwobi’s technical ability, describing the Nigeria international as an influential presence both during matches and within the dressing room.

“There is also something infectious about him as a player, how he turns out games, how he is in the dressing room,” Lampard added.

Lampard also highlighted Iwobi’s technical qualities alongside those of Everton team-mates Joshua King and Oscar Bobb. His comments came as he reflected on a period in which Iwobi established himself more firmly in the Everton side after a challenging start following his 2019 transfer from Arsenal.