Everton have quietly enjoyed a relatively impressive season thus far, and one laden with tangible progress.
However, that journey up the Premier League table has been one thwarted by their own division, with two deductions consistently keeping them entrenched in a relegation battle with which they did not deserve to be.
It’s quite laughable the lengths that Richard Masters and co went to in an effort to drag the Toffees down, only for Sean Dyche to ‘shift the narrative’ time and time again.
He deserves so much credit for rolling with so many punches, and so do his players.
One man in particular, though, is finally starting to get his flowers.
Gary Lineker compares Everton player to John Terry
Speaking on yesterday’s The Rest is Football podcast, Gary Lineker offered his verdict on one particular Everton player, even comparing him to a Premier League legend.
After all, the former Barcelona striker should know all about elite-level players having spent his weekend inducting a few more names into the Premier League’s Hall of Fame.
Funnily enough, one of those names was whom he sought to make a comparison with, as he placed James Tarkowski alongside one of the greatest English defenders.
Lineker claimed: ‘I am not comparing him because John Terry is one of the greats, but you know in that kind of position, he is one of those players like a magnet to where the ball goes defensively, block, near post stuff and clearing it, getting headers in, a little bit in the way that John Terry did.
‘Obviously, John Terry was an elite footballer and brilliant on the ball as well and overall obviously a better central defender, but he is always in the right place at the right time, positionally really really good, Tarkowski.’
James Tarkowski is finally getting his flowers
This is not the first piece of praise that Tarkowski has received in recent weeks, and nor should it be the last given just how dominant he has been for two years now in a royal blue jersey.
Joining from Burnley on a free transfer after their 2022 relegation, it quickly became clear how important the 31-year-old was for this new-look Toffees side under Frank Lampard.
And whilst he would not last too much longer in the dugout, a reunion with Dyche has arguably seen him exhibit some of the best football of his career.
Remaining as solid as ever, whilst seldom missing a minute at all, he has been a mainstay for a backline that compares to the three sides who have competed for the title all season.
Meanwhile, the Toffees only just confirmed their safety at the weekend.
Alan Shearer is one pundit who highlighted Tarkowski’s form, whilst Michael Brown also lauded his relationship with Jarrad Branthwaite as ‘perfect’.
This has been a long time coming, but at last the £100k-a-week stalwart is being recognised for the star he is.
