Iwobi doesn’t have the quality to be Everton’s number 10 - Bent

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa striker Darren Bent believes Alex Iwobi does not have the quality to play in the number 10 role for Everton.

The Nigeria international was deployed to the attacking midfield position in the Toffees’ 2-0 victory against West Ham United last Saturday and featured for 87 minutes before making way for Gylfi Sigurdsson.

The former England international lauded the performance of the 23-year-old but claimed he is not good enough for the central attacking midfield role.

“He’s a funny one as for me he works really hard,” Bent told Football Insider

“Any player would want him in their team as he works so hard but my only issue with him is that if you’re going to play that No.10 role you need to have better quality on the ball.

“For me, too many times, he’ll pick the wrong option as he’ll shoot rather than pass or overshoot his pass, so if you’re going to play a No.10 it needs to be someone like Sigurdsson.

“He’s got that kind of technique, which he showed with the second goal, that means he can play No.10 and Iwobi, for a manager, he is a manager’s dream as he works really hard but to play No.10, you need to have more quality.”

Iwobi has scored two goals and provided one assist in eight appearances since his summer switch from Arsenal.

The utility player will be expected to play a role when Everton take on Brighton and Hove Albion in their next league game on October 26.