Ross Barkley is currently enjoying somewhat of a purple patch with Chelsea, but former Everton full-back Michael Ball believes this current form may be tested come Sunday.
Stamford Bridge will play host to Barkley’s boyhood team Everton on Sunday – the club whom he left for a surprising £15 million move to Chelsea in January.
The game marks the first time that the 24-year-old will square off against his former club, with his impressive goalscoring run leading to him becoming a first-team regular this season.
Barkley, who has since returned to international duties with England, has bagged three goals and three assists in his last four matches.
This includes the infamous 96th-minute equaliser against Manchester United last month. While sparking celebrations and confrontations between players and management staff alike, it also highlighted how the Chelsea number eight has resurrected his career under Maurizio Sarri.
Despite overcoming previous setbacks and paving the way for current success at the Bridge, fellow Everton academy graduate Michael Ball has suggested that this week’s fixture could be one of Barkley’s toughest in a Chelsea shirt.
Speaking in his Liverpool Echo column, Ball, an SPL winner with Rangers, said that it will be a “strange and an uncomfortable” situation for the attacking midfielder.
Everton are my club and I’d been supporting them since I was three-or-four years old, but all of a sudden I was on the other side wearing a different shade of blue. You try and be professional and be the best for your (current) team, but it’s a strange feeling and Everton have got to turn that to their advantage with Ross. It will be a difficult afternoon for him. We know what Ross’ weaknesses are and have to exploit that”, explained the ex-Premier League defender.
