Joe Parkinson

Joe Parkinson is into his stride. He simply loves talking Everton; be it Joe Royle’s potent, robust mid-1990s team, in which he was the combative heartbeat, or Ronald Koeman’s current edition – the former Toffees midfielder’s enthusiasm for his subject radiates from every word.

- Paul McNamara

When the discussion turns to the attributes of Idrissa Gana Gueye, Parkinson really hits his stride.

In the dynamic Senegalese, he spies a shared appetite for the matchday battle. Moreover, the topic of Gueye’s pugnacious characteristics provides a neat segue for Parkinson to slip into conversation about today’s match against Bournemouth.

“A player like Idrissa Gueye is who we need to get that first tackle in and get us rolling,” Parkinson tells Everton’s matchday programme.

“A fast start can mean a goal but it can also mean that first tackle, a great first run, a shot straight away. Just something to get the fans on their feet.

“We have plenty of flair players and they will become more confident if we are getting hold of the ball and supplying them regularly.

“And it will mean we start creating a few more chances.”

Any Evertonian lucky enough to have watched Parkinson in his pomp will appreciate where he is coming from.

The fearless Lancastrian combined with Barry Horne in an uncompromising Toffees engine room. Their job, come hell or high water, was to win the ball – often in terrifically stirring fashion. Then give it to the men with creative magic in their boots, be that Anders Limpar or Graham Stuart – or post- 1995 FA Cup triumph – mercurial Russian playmaker Andrei Kanchelskis.