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It has been an interesting season indeed for midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin. He looked on his way out of Everton following a number of lackadaisical performances and then matters appeared to come to a head when he and Kevin Mirallas were asked to leave training during the interim tenure of David Unsworth.
The Frenchman was excellent tonight against Newcastle, and when he limped off due to a dead leg late in the game, the difference was immediately obvious as the visitors swarmed forward with intent.
Speaking after the game, manager Sam Allardyce was full of praise for the midfielder -
“Morgan Schneiderlin is looking like a very important player for us in midfield, not just with his interceptions but his distribution with the ball is getting better and better.
“I think sooner or later he has to find himself from where he used to be. Sometimes it takes a while to find yourself.
“After a disappointing move that didn’t work at Manchester United where for the first time he found himself not very involved. Then he came to Everton and is trying to reinvent his career.
“Sometimes it takes a bit of time and obviously the whole team suffered a lack of confidence. I think everybody is finally going in the right direction.”
Again, bears noting that Morgan Schneiderlin had an excellent half. pic.twitter.com/HYoIQJFIjn
— Royal Blue Mersey (@RBMersey) April 23, 2018
Schneiderlin has actually played decently the last few games, and Allardyce says that is a product of getting him more playing time.
“I think the confidence is going the right way but there needs to be more consistency.
“Morgan coming up on his game if he continues to show a consistent level of form, which he’s done in the past, we will all get better with him.
“Fans always like to see you play your best and will always support you. If you don’t play so well they will show their disapproval, that’s been in football since it was invented.
“What you have to do is make the fans want to cheer you and at the moment his game has improved very well.”
The midfield pivot is a critical position and Schneiderlin getting back to his original form when he first transferred to the Blues will be a welcome sight if he stays around next season. Luckily, it appears his injury today was minor and he should be fit for next weekend.
Good to get the three points tonight. Disappointed to have to come off but I couldn’t run off a bad dead leg from the first half. Nothing too serious so I should be back for Saturday! #EFC pic.twitter.com/OwoNG8r5FR
— Morgan Schneiderlin (@SchneiderlinMo4) April 23, 2018