Everton boss Marco Silva has heaped praise on second-choice goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, despite the stopper failing to make a single Premier League appearance this season.
The 36-year-old, who moved to Goodison Park in July 2016 on a three-year deal, has only made two League cup appearances for the Toffees this season.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, however, Silva said that it has been remarkable to see the Dutchman – an unused substitute in all 37 Premier League encounters to date – keep number one stopper Jordan Pickford on his toes throughout the season.
“The first thing I have to tell you, because it is the truth, is that he has been fantastic since the first day,” the manager said. “Big credit to him for that. And he will be fantastic until the end because we are talking about a very, very good professional.
“His behaviour everyday in training is fantastic, even if he knows that we will be playing Jordan. He is training hard everyday and always ready to help.
“At the end of each session we normally do some finishing and he and Joao are always ready to help. Even during the season, I took some decisions in the cups.
“In those moments he expected to play but the team was not in a good moment so I stuck with the same goalkeeper. It is not because I don’t have confidence in him.
“He is putting pressure on Jordan. The best way, as a goalkeeper, to put pressure on is by doing your job here during the week and Maarten is doing that. It is up to me to decide but he is doing his job.”
Silva also told the newspaper that there could be changes to Everton’s goalkeeping setup, either with transfers for Stekelenburg or for 19-year-old Joao Virginia, who is set to step up to first-team action from next season.
OPINION
It must be hard for second-choice goalkeepers to stay motivated when their teammates between the sticks are consistently selected over them. But Stekelenburg has shown a great attitude at Everton, always keeping Pickford on his toes. There have been times this season where Pickford has looked shaky – such as the 3-2 defeat away to Newcastle – and Silva may have had a few thoughts about deploying Stekelenburg then to take the pressure off the England international. But Pickford has picked himself back up with six clean sheets in the last seven after the loss at St. James’ Park, but it seems that Stekelenburg is still willing to give it his all in training and put the pressure on his teammates. Stekelenburg has been a solid servant to Everton in the last three seasons, even though he has only appeared five times in the last two campaigns. If he does leave Goodison Park, Everton fans will surely be thanking him for his service.