Tyrique George prediction made after stunning first Everton goal - 'Just wait'

The 20-year-old rifled a vicious shot past Senne Lammens to score his first goal for the Blues in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium. It was a spark of excellence that crowned what had been a good performance, in a positive start to the season, for the summer signing from Chelsea.

For Nevin, who also played for both clubs, there is little doubt Everton are onto a winner with George. He said “Just wait till that lad fills out.”

George initially moved to the Blues on loan in January. He made just one start and provided no goals or assists in 11 appearances. Those statistics did not tell the full story of that stint, however.

As Everton’s European bid collapsed in seven winless games to end the campaign, George was one of few positives to emerge from that spell. He created big chances that were missed by team-mates against West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Sunderland before Antonin Kinsky denied him a first goal with a wonder-save at Tottenham Hotspur.

George was aware he had performed better than the statistics suggested, one of the factors in his decision to agree to a permanent move from Chelsea in the summer.

Reflecting on the end of last season after the opening pre-season game at Dundee in July, he told the ECHO: “That’s football isn’t it? I was so close to getting the stats and even though they don’t show it, if you watched the games you would have seen that I had those moments. It was just unfortunate.”

George shone in pre-season, capping his run of form with a well-taken goal in the friendly demolition of Newcastle United. He has started all three Premier League games and deserved his big moment in front of the home supporters on Sunday afternoon.

For Nevin, it was a sign of things to come. He told SpilXperten: “I've seen enough from Tyrique George at Chelsea and I saw his loan spell at Everton last year. You know the sort of player you're getting.

“He had to get away from Chelsea. A hundred percent because it wasn't going to happen for him there. And they knew he was good because they put him in young.

"And I just love when players go from Chelsea to Everton. I just love that because I know they're really good, a lot of them. They're technically very good.

“With Tyrique, the fact that they got him and gave him a few chances here and there. Stuck him out wide but we know he can play centrally as well. Just wait till that lad fills out, and he will, cause you can see the body shape and physicality is getting better.

“He was wiry before. Every time he gets the ball, he doesn't lack a moment's worth of confidence, does he?

"There's a lot of wingers out there who go up to a defender and turn back. That's not Tyrique is it? He's going for it. Delighted with him as well."