FAI Player watch – Darron Gibson

With Everton staging a late challenge for a Champions League spot, our regular columnist Cathal Kearney takes a detailed look at Darron Gibson, an Irish international who is dictating the play in the heart of Everton’s midfield.

Derry-born Darron Gibson lined up for Everton on last weekend as his side faced Queens Park Rangers in a Premier League clash at Goodison Park.

Gibson hasn’t exactly pulled up trees since he signed for the Toffees from Manchester United in January last year, yet he has found consistency and much-needed game time on Merseyside.

Under the tutelage of David Moyes, Gibson has been afforded time to develop into a more complete midfielder. This season, Gibson has cut a more assured and altogether happier figure on the field, where he is relishing his relatively new duties. He has also been a lynchpin in his side’s recent push for Champions League qualification.

The Toffees produced a solid team effort against QPR, with Gibson receiving the man-of-the-match award after scoring the first of his side’s two goals. His deflected strike sent the Toffees ahead, with Victor Anichebe adding the second on 56 minutes to secure the three points and all but relegate a beleaguered QPR.

Gibson’s distribution and all-round play were also good during the game, and he linked up well with fellow Irishman Séamus Coleman down the right. Gibson’s neat one-twos with Kevin Mirallas also threatened to unlock the stubborn QPR rearguard on numerous occasions.

With just a solitary assist to his name this season – occurring during Everton’s opening day win over the Irishman’s former employers from Manchester – Gibson’s contributions can be easily underestimated. Playing in a similar fashion to the likes of Michael Carrick, Sandro and Lucas Leiva, Gibson falls into the category of ‘water carrier’.

He may seem to ghost through games, yet fellow professionals will wax lyrical about such players, as they tend to do all of the donkey work that others simply shy away from.