Pundit suggests Iwobi's defensive attributes keeping Demarai Gray out of Everton side

Sky Sports pundit Ben Grounds has shared his thoughts ahead of Everton's Premier League meeting with Brentford at Goodison Park on Saturday.

One of the subjects he touched on in his interview with the official website of the Bees was Demarai Gray losing his place in the starting lineup following the appointment of Sean Dyche as coach. 

Gray is the Toffees' leading scorer in the Premier League with four goals, but has started just one game from a possible six since Dyche took over the managerial reigns from Frank Lampard. 

Dyche is a defensive coach with an emphasis on preventing the opposition from building attacks. 

Grounds has admitted that Iwobi and Dwight McNeil are keeping Gray out of the Everton starting lineup because of their defensive contributions to the team. 

The Nigeria international has mostly played on the flanks since Dyche's appointment, and has helped in cutting out threats from opposition wing players. 

"The work of McNeil and Alex Iwobi on the opposite flank off the ball is the reason why Gray has found himself out of the side, but using them as a fluid front three could be Everton’s best route to a positive outcome on Saturday," Grounds told Brentford's official website. 

Going into the weekend clash against Brentford, Everton are eighteenth in the Premier League standings but are level on 22 points with Leeds United who are 17th. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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