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Everton: Chris Beesley discusses James Rodriguez

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Image for Everton: Chris Beesley discusses James Rodriguez

The Liverpool Echo’s Chris Beesley has recently discussed the current form of James Rodriguez and his fitness ahead of the Carabao Cup quarter-final.

On Wednesday night, the Toffees face Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup at Goodison Park (per Transfermarkt).

Having missed Everton’s previous three matches in the Premier League, Rodriguez would seemingly be a doubt for the mid-week clash against the Red Devils.

The Colombian has only featured in one of the Merseyside club’s matches in the Carabao Cup so far this term, that being the 4-1 win against West Ham United where he bagged an assist.

During the latest episode of the Liverpool Echo’s Royal Blue: The Everton FC Podcast, Beesley discussed the former Real Madrid man ahead of the match with United.

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To kick off this quiz on Seamus Coleman, what squad number does the right-back currently wear for the Toffees?

He said: “Only Carlo [Ancelotti] himself will know how fit James is and how ready he is, but if he is ready, yeah, I would go for him.

He is a match-winner. We all know he’s not been the same ever since that injury he picked up in the derby. He’s been in and out, and even when he was playing, he was a shadow of the player we’d seen in the opening weeks of the season.

“Hopefully, once he is fit, be that the Manchester United game or not on Wednesday, or whenever he is deemed fully fit to return, hopefully he has recharged the batteries a little bit and got that out of his system.

“We’ve seen already in a short space of time he’s been at Everton what a very special player he still is; he’s got a lot to prove. He’s come to this country wanting to show that he is still a world-class talent.

“He’s the kind of player in a game against Manchester United, might be a real tough cup tie – he might just prove the difference.”

TIF Thoughts on what Chris Beesley said about James Rodriguez…

As can be seen in what the journalist had to say, he is unsure of whether or not the Colombian will be available for action against the Red Devils.

However, he believes that if he is, then Rodriguez could be the decider between the two sides, although he has still supposedly “got a lot to prove”.

Could James Rodriguez be the difference against Manchester United?

Yes, he's a match-winner

Yes, he's a match-winner

No, he won't decide it

No, he won't decide it

Certainly, it is hard to argue with the journalist as the 29-year-old midfielder has been a key man for the Toffees so far this season, having been their best-performing player in the league (per WhoScored).

So, hopefully, the Colombian is fit to return to action against Solskjaer’s side as he could be the difference between a cup exit and safe passage to the Carabao Cup semi-final.

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