'Everyone wants to drive a Ferrari' - Sean Dyche details why Dwight McNeil has blossomed at Everton

Sean Dyche believes Dwight McNeil approach as “a proper professional” as enabled him to win over Everton’s fans - and reckons the best is yet to come from a player who he handed a debut to as a teenager at Burnley.

McNeil, who Dyche revealed played against Manchester City despite personal issues, has been Everton’s most creative attacking player since he was reunited with his former Clarets gaffer, and has so far provided seven goals and now six assists. The Rochdale-born player arrived at Goodison Park in a £20million deal in the summer of last year after a final season at Turf Moor in which he failed to score and provided just one assist. But Dyche believes it is McNeil’s application that is enabling him to make great strides.

He said: “I think his maturity as a professional continues, I think his understanding of the role, his tactical understanding, his understanding of Everton Football Club as well because he was at Burnley for a while, continue. He’s packaging himself together as a very, very good professional.

“As a manager, you look at professionals for their talent, of course. But what about their overall professionalism? What about their understanding of what it is?

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“I say to all the younger players, on your passport, you want it to say professional footballer, not just footballer. Everyone wants the footballer bit, everyone wants to win, everyone wants to win trophies and play for England or whatever your country, everyone wants to drive a Ferrari or whatever they want.

“That’s what managers love about players, so that’s the bit you focus on and go, ‘right,