BEN’S GOT THE LOTTI AS TOFFEES STAR HITS THE GROUND RUNNING

QUALITY: Godfrey

CARLO ANCELOTTI believes Ben Godfrey can be a leading centre-back at Everton for years to come.

The £25m summer signing from Norwich was initially expected to be one for the future at the club. But he has already shown his quality filling in at centre-back and at left-back for the Toffees this season.

And he could turn out to be a bargain buy if he continues to develop. Now Ancelotti will be hoping the 23-year-old can help stop Manchester United’s attack tonight.

The Italian said: “He has a lot of qualities, it is difficult to name a single quality.

“He has a lot of energy, his physicality is really top for a defender.

“And he is fast, he is aggressive in one against one and defensively he is good with the head.

“I think this is the best quality he has. I think that the signing was fantastic.

“He is young, above all, and can be the future of this club in that position. “We have a lot of young central defenders and are covered for a long time, with Yerry Mina, Mason Holgate, Ben Godfrey, Michael Keane. “We have Jarrad Branthwaite on loan, he is another good central defender.” Everton head to Old Trafford just four points off the Champions League places with two games in hand over fourth-placed Liverpool. But Ancelotti (inset) believes the focus is only on making the top six and qualifying for the Europa League.

He said: “We have to challenge for the first six places that give us the chance to play in Europe.

“We don’t have to think about the first four, it will be, honestly, really, really difficult, really complicated.

“We have to look to stay up there as long as possible. To stay where we are for as long as possible.”

Keeper Jordan Pickford will again sit out because he is still struggling with a rib injury which saw him miss the 2-1 win at Leeds on Wednesday.