Credit: Manh Tung, Imago
Thu 29 January 2026 14:10, UK
Adam Aznou could be set for an extended run in the Everton team.
Everton secured a point in a 1-1 draw with Leeds United last time out, and while the result itself wasn’t overly positive, nor was the performance, there were a few things that will have seen many Toffees fans breathe a sigh of relief.
Both Jarrad Branthwaite and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made their return to the matchday squad, having spent a significant amount of time sidelined due to injury.
Branthwaite, in particular, has had to wait a while for his return, and having now done so, it could be a huge benefit for Aznou.
Credit: Breaking MediaDavid Moyes may be forced into tactical rethink
Branthwaite was brought on as a substitute against Leeds, and for him to have fared well on his return, it will be a big boost for David Moyes.
After such a long time on the sidelines, this weekend’s clash with Brighton may come too soon for him to be named in the starting 11, but, providing he can prove his fitness, the next clash with Fulham could see that happen.
And if so, Moyes will be forced into one of two options. Either he drops one of James Tarkowski and Michael Keane, or he slots Branthwaite into a back three.
If the latter were to be the case, which seems more likely, it could provide the perfect recipe for Aznou to stamp his mark on the team, with the former Bayern star certainly more tailored to play in a wing-back role.
Credit: Sofascore
As showcased by the above Sofascore data, Aznou showcased his quality in an attacking sense in Everton’s FA Cup defeat to Sunderland at the start of the year, and he would no doubt be relishing the challenge in the Premier League if that were to be the case.
What has David Moyes said about Aznou’s omission?
Quite surprisingly, given how well he fared, that FA Cup defeat to Sunderland remains the only game in which Aznou has appeared in this season.
As for the reason behind that, Moyes has previously highlighted the areas in which Aznou needs to improve to get regular exposure to first-team football.
Back in September, the Everton manager said: “He’s a really good footballer, a nice footballer. He’s just got a bit of building up to do, a bit of physicality to get, so we’ll do that, and we’ll see how he develops.
“He’s above that level [U21s], but it doesn’t mean that he might need to get a few games – if we’re struggling to get him game time, we might need to use him [in the U21s] at different times.”
Stay up to date this winter with our Everton transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at Hill Dickinson, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.