Carlo Ancelotti has heaped praise on £25m summer signing Ben Godfrey for his role in recent Everton victories which included wins and clean sheets against Chelsea and Leicester, as well as a 2-1 defeat of Arsenal.
The Toffees were not expected to spend big on reinforcements after bolstering their ranks with the likes of James Rodriguez, Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure, but that did not stop the Toffees from acquiring former York City starlet Godfrey from relegated Norwich City on transfer deadline day.
The 22-year-old has been an integral figure in a defence which secured back-to-back clean sheets and three consecutive victories in an impressive turnaround in form for Ancelotti’s side.
The manager did not hold back in his praise for Godfrey’s excellence in an unfamiliar left-back role, saying: “Ben Godfrey is doing a fantastic job because he is not playing in his usual position. He is showing he is a really intelligent player, tactically a really top player. He is replacing a fantastic left-back, that is Lucas Digne.”
A nine-point boost from their last three games has left the Toffees sitting in the Champions League positions at Christmas, with nothing to suggest that Godfrey will lose his left-back spot in a defence which has consisted entirely of natural centre-backs in recent games.
Read Everton Verdict
Coming in for Digne in an unfamiliar role was a huge ask for Godfrey, but he has more than repaid Ancelotti’s faith with recent results and performances.
The 22-year-old has proven his versatility and looks to be essential to the Toffees maintaining their resurgent form throughout the festive period and beyond.
