James Tarkowski makes honest Everton admission as he delivers positive fitness update

James Tarkowski says he is now over the injury niggles that have plagued his campaign. And the stand-in Everton skipper believes the Blues are now getting back to their best defensively after 'very, very poor' early-season showings.

Tarkowski, who wears the captain's armband in Seamus Coleman's absence, missed part of pre-season with a glute injury and then was forced to deal with a back problem once the campaign got under way.

That ensured the 31-year-old was not always fully able to train and his performances, along with the team's, dipped in the opening weeks of the season.

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Everton lost their first four Premier League games, shipping 13 goals, but in the seven matches since then they have conceded just four times, keeping three clean sheets, and have picked up 10 points.

At the other end of the field the Blues are still not clicking with the disappointing 1-0 loss at Southampton - in which they missed a host of second-half chances - being followed by a bore 0-0 draw at West Ham United on Saturday.

Sean Dyche's side return to action after the final international break of the year when they welcome Brentford to Goodison Park on Saturday, November 23.

And, speaking to evertontv after the Hammers stalemate, Tarkowski said: “I said early season that it was very, very poor the way we're defending - me personally and as a unit and as a team.

“But we've got back to the sort of level that we expect. Jordan (Pickford) made a couple of big saves today, but we defended well and felt comfortable for most of the game as we have done a lot recently in other games.

“So, we can be pleased with that and, as I say, it's always a platform to build from. If you're defending well and keep clean sheets, you'll always get an opportunity to score goals and hopefully in this Christmas period coming up with the games thick and fast, we can start to do that.”

Everton sit 16th in the standings, three points above the relegation places, and while their next two home games, against Brentford and Wolves, are eminently winnable, the majority of their fixtures in the lead up to Christmas are against teams at the top end of the table.

The Blues will need to continue to be solid and they will be helped in that regard by the fact that Tarkowski, who has made 94 appearances for the club since his free transfer move from Burnley in the summer of 2022, says he is now fully fit.

Tarkowski, who despite his issues has not missed a minute of Premier League action this season, said: “I'm back to the way I want to be now. It's took a bit of time, a frustrating period for the first few months.

“It's not easy playing with niggles and injuries and not being at full fitness but it's part of the game, there's plenty of people do it. So, I'm feeling back to the level that I want to be, and I want to continue that.”