Everton's push for FA Cup glory could rely on the performances of Dutchman Johnny Heitinga, who the statistics suggest is the Merseyside club's key player.
David Moyes's Everton aren't a club particularly known for their individual stars. Since Mikel Arteta's departure earlier this season, and the drop in form of Tim Cahill, no one player can claim the status of poster-boy.
And yet by rights defender Johnny Heitinga ought to fit the bill perfectly. A World Cup runner-up, capped 75 times by Holland - more than Frank Rijkaard, Edgar Davids and Mark van Bommel, to name but three - Heitinga has become an integral part of David Moyes’ Everton side since his arrival from Atlético Madrid in 2009.
It's perhaps only Heitinga's modesty and unwillingness to court publicity which have meant his achievements on the field have gone largely unnoticed by the media.
"Maybe you don’t give Johnny as much credit as he deserves," Moyes told the press earlier this month. Maybe not, as the statistics aptly demonstrate just how vital the Dutchman is to Everton's chances of success.
During his stay at Goodison Park so far, Everton have won 41% of Premier League games with him in the side, compared to 28% without him, while the average goals per game they have conceded per game has been significantly lower when he has been playing (1.13) than when he has been absent (1.44).
Dutch destroyer
Heitinga has also carried on improving since he arrived at Goodison as a 25-year-old, as evidenced by the fact that his passing accuracy has gone up in each of the last three seasons.
More than anything this reflects an increased concentration in his defensive duties: last season he made an average 2.04 unsuccessful passes per 90 minutes in his own half: the current campaign has seen this drop to 1.28.
Similarly he is now more disciplined, committing 1.28 fouls per 90 minutes this season, compared to 1.95 in 2010/11. That's at least in part down to his move from defensive midfielder to centre half under David Moyes - "when you play in midfield there are more battles, more balls to win" he said in an interview last year - but it's also a sign of increasing maturity.
This season he has also been a lot more committed to his club’s defensive record, making 26 blocks in the Premier League (14 more than any other Everton player) and more than in his previous two league campaigns combined (20).
Overall, Heitinga’s stay at Everton has seen him mature into one of the most underrated centre-halves in the Premier League.
A solid performance against Sunderland to help the Toffees into the FA Cup semi-finals would only further cement his burgeoning reputation.
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