Lampard finally reveals the secret to Iwobi's new form

Everton manager Frank Lampard has continued his praise of Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi over his recent run of form since the turn of the year.

Iwobi has been in incredible form for the Toffees in 2022, becoming the most influential and important player under Lampard at Goodison Park.

The Nigerian international has excelled in various positions and added goals and assists to his game, performances that saw him shortlisted for the September Premier League Player of the Month award.

The former Arsenal star will hope to replicate his recent performances when Everton welcome Erik ten Hag's Manchester United side to Merseyside on Sunday, October 9.

Ahead of the clash, Lampard spoke about Iwobi's resurgence under him, admitting that he did not know so much about the Super Eagles star when he took the Everton job and he thought he would just play him as a winger. 

In his pre-match press conference as reported by Liverpool Echo, Lampard said: "I didn’t have a big view on him as such [when Lampard arrived at Everton]. I think from the outside... I was very aware of him coming through because my staff had been at the Chelsea academy for years and Alex was at the Arsenal academy. 

"We spoke about every player and their feeling having gone up against Alex as a kid was that he was an immensely talented player so there would be something there for us.

"At the time I came in I probably presumed it would probably be as a winger and [he would] do a job for us there and I then just wanted to stay open and see what he showed us in training."

However, Lampard credited Iwobi for putting in the work himself that saw him enjoy a change in fortunes at Everton.

The former Chelsea player and manager stated that it does not matter what he thought of Iwobi before as his job now is to support the Super Eagles star and put him in the right team with structure.

"There has been a huge development and I am asked a lot about my input in it and so much is down to Alex himself," Lampard continued.

"It is clear to say that only players and players themselves can make the strides Alex has made, but not many make the strides he has made in the right way. 

"My job is to support him, give him confidence, put him in the right structure, in the right team and the rest is down to him. 

"Whatever view when I came in is not important but now I have a huge respect for him and love working with him."

Everton will be hoping to keep their two-match winning streak after consecutive victories against West Ham United and Southampton pushed them to 9th on the log after Matchday 8.