Dyche explains 'very simple' instructions that got the most out of Everton's 'good' player

Sean Dyche thinks Dwight McNeil needs to relax and work hard to get back to his best after a difficult start to life at Everton.

McNeil struggled with former Toffees manager Frank Lampard after his summer move from Burnley, where he attracted a lot of attention for his form under Dyche.

Now that the pair have been reunited at Goodison Park, McNeil is starting to show he could be a key figure in Everton's fight against relegation, with his first goal earning a precious three points against Brentford last time out.

Dyche said: "I think he's finding his feet again. It's a big thing for a player who came to a small club like Burnley.

"Sometimes it's easier to go when you're young. He's built a really good reputation and is moving here and it's getting bigger. I think he's just gotten his shoulders back.

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"We reminded him that when he relaxes and works hard, he is a good player. The information given to him was very, very simple. I think he is a player who is ready to improve and he is improving."

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin still sidelined by a hamstring problem that has dogged him all season, Everton remain severely short of options up front so Toffees fans will be hoping McNeil will be able to score more goals.

"I spoke recently about the whole team being scorers or having a goal-scoring mentality," Dyche said.

“It definitely got better, the amount of body going into the box but the intent, the body language. It started with the set pieces and then you brought that mentality into the game and that freedom – I call it the joy of missing out. Be there to score.

"If Dwight can contribute that's great, but I'm not just going to single out one player, it's about all players."

Dyche oversaw three home wins that took Everton out of the bottom three since taking control of the seat, but picked up just a point clear.

He takes his side to Chelsea on Saturday, the pressure on Blues boss Graham Potter having been eased by three straight wins and progress in the Champions League.

Dyche said, "I know Graham a bit. He's come into a new situation. I know they've spent a fortune, but you still have to shape it as a team. Sometimes it's hand in hand. hand and it works right away and sometimes it takes time.

"Whatever everyone is watching and thinking, and maybe still because there are still some ups and downs, at the end of the day they have very, very good players and very strong.

"It's another tough away game, but we have to be ready for it, and I think we show in our mentality that we can be ready for it - the whistles, we have to deliver. "

With British managers of Champions League clubs in short supply, Potter is in the spotlight, but Dyche hopes the tide might turn.

"It's been a long time, this kind of feeling," he said. “I don't think it's relevant for English managers, British versus foreign – if you're good, you're good; if you can do the job, you can do it.

“I think the breakthrough would be an English manager winning the league or something. But there have been a lot of good signs from English and British managers. he's a good guy as well as a good manager."

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