The youngster’s impressive start to the season looks set to be rewarded with a new and improved contract.
When Leighton Baines went down after a freak training ground injury, there was, understandably, a degree of nervousness around Goodison Park.
For the best part of eight seasons, Baines has been a crucial link to the Everton backbone, so his three-month injury just seemed to add pessimism to a preseason that was, for most Evertonians, nothing to write home about.
Like Baines, fellow left-back Bryan Oviedo’s injury curse has continued to riddle him, with most of this season and last spent on the physio’s table.
The absence of the pair has seen the responsibility of arguably football’s trickiest position fall to 19-year-old Brendan Galloway, who had made just two appearances for Everton before this season’s beginning. His speedy development has been as good as it has been surprising.
Born in Zimbabwe, Galloway moved to England as a six-year-old. He would later be snapped up by Milton Keynes Dons, where he would begin his footballing journey in their under-11s team before moving up the ranks.
He debuted for the senior team at 15 in 2011, making 10 appearances thereafter before swapping northern London for Merseyside in 2014, signing a five-year-deal with the Toffees.
A centre-half by trade, Galloway debuted for Everton on the left-side of defence in the penultimate match of last season, a 2-1 away win against West Ham United. He held his own in that match and did his chances of another start no harm.
And another start is what he got. The England under-19 international was selected at left-back against Spurs on the final matchday. Harry Kane’s winner that day came down Galloway’s side, though an inch-perfect delivery from Eric Dier meant the prolific young striker could not miss.
Onto the new campaign and Galloway cannot be faulted after five matches (four in his case – he missed the trip to White Hart Lane through injury).
Even though he had shown what he was capable of briefly at the conclusion of the previous season, Galloway’s ability was still something of an unknown.
A double-concession at the hands of Watford was hardly the fault of his; in fact, the Hornets played only two crosses from the flank Galloway was guarding until he was subbed off in an attacking move, versus six from the other side.
In week three, Manchester City approached the match clearly looking to attack Galloway’s side, with Jesus Navas and Bacary Sagna often picking up the ball in advanced positions and double-teaming the left-back.
Nevertheless, Galloway stood firm until he succumbed to injury after 45 minutes, helping keep the Blues’ clean sheet to the half in tact.
But it was the performance last weekend against Chelsea which put an exclamation mark on Galloway’s swift advance, first an foremost, keeping the dangerous Pedro under wraps. The Spaniard passed just once into the penalty area and completed the same number of take-ons – that take-on was in his own half.
Backing up Galloway’s defensive output were his efforts in attack. It was his tantalising ball that set Steven Naismith on his way to a perfect hat-trick after 17 minutes while keeping Branislav Ivanovic busy.
Great performance and win yesterday ⚽️?? pic.twitter.com/1bWVOhsTT5
— Brendan Galloway (@brendan_gallo37) September 13, 2015
Galloway’s development has surprised Roberto Martinez. He told EvertonTV that the player’s progress has been quicker than even he expected.
“We always felt that Brendan had that potential – that’s why we made sure we put a lot of effort to bring him into the football club from MK Dons,” Martinez said.
“What is true as well is that he’s had a quicker development than we expected – and that is down to his own personality and character.
Nothing fazes him, he’s always ready to improve, always ready to perform and, at the football club, we will always do the same thing; when we see a player get ahead of his programme, that needs to be rewarded.”
With Baines expected to be out for another two months and Oviedo’s on-and-off fitness still worrying him, Galloway’s spot in the Everton XI looks safe for the foreseeable future.
Next up for the Merseysiders is a tricky trip to the Liberty Stadium to face the highly-rated Swansea City. The match presents possibly Galloway’s toughest test yet in the form of Ghanaian winger Andre Ayew, who already has three goals and an assist for the season.
Galloway’s performances thus far can leave supporters with piece of mind; he now looks settled, at home at left-back and forms just another part of Everton’s exciting young brigade, including John Stones, Ross Barkley, Romelu Lukaku and new signing Leandro Rodriguez.
There is only improvement to come from here and a sparkling future on the blue half of Merseyside.
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