Frank Lampard credited Isaac Price with being 'the best player on the pitch' as Everton defeated Celtic to win the Sydney Super Cup.
The 19-year-old showed determination and composure as he battled in central midfield and was involved in several promising passages of play. In the second half he was the only recognised central midfielder on the pitch for the Blues after Abdoulaye Doucoure was forced off with a knee issue.
Price was supported by wingers Dwight McNeil and Anthony Gordon in the middle, but retained his cool throughout. Lampard's options in the middle were already limited due to Alex Iwobi, Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana being on international duty, James Garner dealing with a back issue and Tom Davies suffering a knee injury in Australia that means he will have to fly back to England early.
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Yet Lampard said academy starlet Price, who has been a key player in the Under-21s this season, was always likely to get minutes against Celtic. "I would have played Isaac anyway because he has trained really well in recent weeks," said the Blues boss.
"He’s been playing well [with the U21s] and with Tom out we had to go to a back three today with no other midfield player. Then Doucoure gets injured at half-time and we are playing wingers in midfield.
"So that is where we are at, obviously we have some players at the World Cup and Alex [Iwobi] is with his national team so we’re okay once we get back and everyone fit, to a degree. But I suppose it gives an opportunity and I thought Isaac Price was the best player on the pitch."
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