As Everton navigate another challenging Premier League season, the impact of James Tarkowski has been impossible to ignore. We spoke to Will Rooney of LiverpoolWorld to assess the defender’s importance at Goodison Park.
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00:00As Everton navigates another challenging Premier League season, the impact of James Tarkovsky has been impossible to ignore.
00:11He's been a rock at the back, providing consistency, leadership and resilience in the season filled with uncertainty.
00:18His commanding presence and ever-present status have helped Everton maintain a solid defensive foundation, especially during key periods of pressure.
00:28Whether it's organising the back line, making lastest tackles or stepping up as a vocal leader, Tarkovsky's influence has been vital for many Everton fans.
00:39He's a clear contender for their player of the season.
00:42We spoke to Will Rooney of Liverpool World to assess the defender's importance at Goodison this season.
00:51Will, let's just look at James Tarkovsky now.
00:54Well, just before we touch on his injury situation, his dedication, his commitment to Everton.
01:00I mean, he's played pretty much every single game in the last few Premier League seasons.
01:04What sort of impact has he had? What sort of growth has he had as well?
01:07I mean, it seems he's always a minimum of seven out of ten every week.
01:10And, you know, he's taken this Everton defence and he's gone through a lot with them.
01:16He's been that really rock at the back.
01:18And, you know, he's a stalwart there all the time for Everton.
01:22What sort of impact has he had on Everton's side?
01:25Well, since he arrived, he's played every Premier League game, 111 successive appearances.
01:33And unfortunately, it looks like he's not going to hit that record of 114 that Wayne Bridge holds.
01:38For someone coming in on a free transfer, he's clever to have made some real poor purchases, poor recruitment decisions in recent years.
01:52But there was some who made, you know, he's on decent wages because there was no transfer fee involved.
02:00And I think for what Everton have got out of it, he's definitely been more than worth that.
02:04He's been a rock at the back the first season under Lampard.
02:11And then Chulon Dyche, he was excellent last season.
02:14He was right up there.
02:15At the start of this season, he was carrying, I think, a bit of a back issue.
02:19And maybe he wasn't quite himself.
02:21But in recent weeks, he has been himself.
02:24You know, he's handed the vice-captaincy.
02:27Pretty much been captain all season with Seamus Coleman, not because of his injury issues.
02:32He has been a leader, someone who every manager he plays under can rely on.
02:40He's got a year left on his deal.
02:42Maybe Everton, I think he's 32 going on 33.
02:45Maybe Everton start looking at a succession plan for him, which is no disrespect to him whatsoever,
02:51because I still think he's got a good few years left at the top.
02:54But, yeah, I think in terms of incomings, he's been up there in recent season.
03:03He has proven excellent value.
03:06He's still got a lot to give at Everton.
03:08You know, his leadership, he's a real out-and-out defender.
03:12And he carries a threat in the opposition's box as well.
03:14Yeah, just on his injury, obviously, it puts a dent in that aim for that record, incredible record at Everton.
03:24What's the sort of feeling around his injury?
03:28And, you know, is this an area that Everton may need to address in the summer in terms of a backup position
03:32for if some of their key players do pick up injuries throughout the campaign?
03:36Well, it's nothing official, but it doesn't look good.
03:42I mean, I'd be honest, I'd be surprised if he does play again this season because it's a hamstring injury.
03:49The way he went down and he immediately pointed to the substitute bench, it just didn't appear good.
03:59And is there a point in risking him potentially in these final five games, even if he could get back for the last one?
04:05And hamstring injuries, even if it's a minor one, you're probably looking at, you know, a week.
04:09But I think he could be sidelined for the rest of the season, personally, just because of how he went down.
04:17You're not going to jop out of Jared Branfweiss and Jake O'Brien wouldn't say, no, no, that's fine.
04:22You play, make it pass him because he didn't play a lot of football in the first half of the season.
04:27And that's something to prove.
04:28So it's a chance for Moyes now to have a look at another player and he might be a little bit wiser about what he wants to do in the summer.
04:37But come back to the original point, yeah, a centre-back, I can see him go and get him one in the summer.