Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi is raving about his return from injury after helping his team secure a 3-2 comeback victory against Watford in a Premier League fixture.
On Saturday, Iwobi played his first game under Carlo Ancelotti since he suffered a hamstring injury against Arsenal on December 21. He later describes how he nearly tore his hamstring again and needs to be careful going forward.
The 23-year-old was handed a starting role to mark his 17th league appearance of the season as Yerry Mina’s three-minute brace and Theo Walcott’s stoppage-time effort completed a dramatic comeback win at Vicarage Road.
In his reaction to the result, Iwobi who was in action for 65 minutes, said he did not imagine himself in the starting XI, but he was keen to prove himself to Ancelotti who took over from interim boss Duncan Ferguson after his injury.
“There is no better feeling than coming back and winning and it was the perfect day for me,” Iwobi told Everton TV.
“I did not expect to come straight back in, the manager had us guessing with the set pieces we did on Friday, so we did not know [who was playing].
“But we were all ready to start. Whenever it was my time, I knew I would be ready.
“At times my reactions were a bit slow but that will come the more I am playing.
“I felt okay, not leggy at all. I always pushed on [during his recovery]. Even when I was told to relax – I tried to show I was able to get back fit.
“I was eager to be back, especially with a new manager. I was itching to show him what I could do.”
Walcott's last-gasp winner sent Everton to ninth in the Premier League table and the Super Eagles midfielder has urged his teammates to build on their second win in 2020.
“We just have to keep going to the end of the season. Wins like this will give us the confidence that we can push on towards the top of the table,” he continued.
“Let’s go as high as we can. It wasn’t the greatest idea for me [to sprint towards the celebration following Everton’s winner] because I ran – I wasn’t trying to tear my hamstring but I was close to doing it because of that celebration!
“It was an amazing feeling, everyone was running – that feeling is hard to describe. It is one of a kind."
