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.
Comments