Captain Fantastic

Few players have stood out for Everton this season with Leighton Baines and Tim Cahill having been the only outstanding performers thus far. Many will point to the emergence of Seamus Coleman as a potent threat on the right wing and the recent impressive performances of Marouane Fellaini and Jermaine Beckford- however it is none of the aformentioned who are in the spotlight here.

No, that honour goes to Phil Neville and to see why, we will be delving into some intriguing statistics.

Neville joined Everton from Manchester United for £3.5m in August 2005.

Not many Evertonians underestimate Neville's role as a leader and an organiser, but if I told you that, statistically, he is Everton's most influential player, that might raise a few eyebrows, wouldn't it?

Anyway, as they say, 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating', so here we go:

• Since the start of the 2008/09 season, Everton have won 44% of matches when Neville has started as opposed to just 21.7% when he hasn't. This betters the statistics of any other player in the current squad.
• Over the same time period, Everton, on average, have conceded just one goal every 90 minutes when Neville has been on the pitch compared to one goal every 55 minutes when he hasn't.
• Neville has been in the starting 11 for all five of Everton's Premier League victories this season.

Harry Redknapp was clearly not as deluded as some Tottenham fans thought he was when he was linked with a bid for him last week. Although Neville may not contribute so obviously to Everton's play, his influence on results justifies why Moyes sees him as an invaluable member of Everton's squad and one who is a regular fixture in the starting line-up.