Season › 2012-13 › News Hibbert returns for second string Lyndon Lloyd , 8 April, 22comments | Jump to most recent Everton U21 1 - 1 Fulham U21 Tony Hibbert returned to action for the first time this year when he played 65 minutes Everton U21s this evening in their game against Fulham at Southport. The veteran fullback underwent surgery on his calf towards the end of last year and has spent the last four months recovering. The Blues' second string were pegged back by the Londoners in a 1-1 draw. Shane Duffy scored for Everton with a header off a Luke Garbutt free kick and almost struck a winner but his shot thumped off the crossbar. Reader Comments (22) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer John Gee 1 Posted 08/04/2013 at 20:58:40 Super Hibbo! Now we can nail 2nd. Mark Frere 2 Posted 08/04/2013 at 21:03:26 Only good news if Moyes uses Hibbo as back up for Coleman. Hibbert is a great defender, but offers little going forward. What would be ideal, would be a cross between coleman and Hibbert player who has both their qualities. Phil Sammon 3 Posted 08/04/2013 at 21:36:20 Noticed McAleny didn't play. Anyone any ideas? Injured? Sam Hoare 4 Posted 08/04/2013 at 21:55:35 Phil, either injured or being saved for his Goodson debut this weekend? Sadly is imagine the former. Trevor Lynes 5 Posted 08/04/2013 at 22:36:25 Duffy seems like a goal scorer from centre back... he has scored a few this season. David Kenrick 6 Posted 08/04/2013 at 23:24:54 How on earth does Tony Hibbert (32 yrs) play for the Under-21s???Please explain! Andy Crooks 7 Posted 09/04/2013 at 00:33:20 Apart from scoring and hitting the crossbar how did Duffy play? Jimmy Sørheim 8 Posted 09/04/2013 at 01:47:55 David, there is a rule that 3 players over the age limit can be included. I wonder if Hibbert will be given a start next game for the first team now. Would be a smart thing to try and tie up that leaky defence, I think that we have missed Hibbert this season. Coleman is not good enough yet to be a Premier League defender, his tackling and strength is lacking. Jason Heng 9 Posted 09/04/2013 at 02:48:40 Hibbo, we really missed him this season! Might have saved us 6 points this season and we'd be in 3rd place with game in hand. Andrew Lawrenson 10 Posted 09/04/2013 at 03:14:57 Its probably been one of our worst ever seasons for conceding goals and Hibbo as missed virtually the full season I honestly think Coleman as improved ten-fold this season but we have missed Hibbo in the back 4 this season Robin Cannon 11 Posted 09/04/2013 at 04:52:40 @David (235) - "Under-21" is kind of a misnomer. Teams can play an overage goalkeeper and up to three overage outfield players. Sam Hoare 12 Posted 09/04/2013 at 08:03:19 I think Coleman has been one of our stand out players since the turn of the year and whilst obviously strong when attacking has let very little past him defensively too. Always been a big Hibbert fan but Coleman looks the superior player to me and I'm not sure Tony will get his place back. Sam Hoare 13 Posted 09/04/2013 at 08:03:19 I think Coleman has been one of our stand out players since the turn of the year and whilst obviously strong when attacking has let very little past him defensively too. Always been a big Hibbert fan but Coleman looks the superior player to me and I'm not sure Tony will get his place back. Ciaran Duff 14 Posted 09/04/2013 at 08:54:06 Agreed Sam. We looked more vulnerable on our left on Sunday. I thought Coleman did really well defensively esp as Mirallas does not provide that much cover.Still, it is good to have Hibbo available as backup. Ray Roche 15 Posted 09/04/2013 at 09:13:04 Ciaran, I think one reason we, and Baines, looked so vulnerable was the absence of Pienaar. Walker had little to occupy him which allowed him the freedom to push forward. What an asset he'd be to us. Steavey Buckley 16 Posted 09/04/2013 at 09:32:55 I would like to know why Oviedo is being overlooked by Moyes? He certainly was needed to help Baines last Sunday. The winning goal came when Baines lost the man who crossed for Spurs to eventually score and make it 2:2. Liam Reilly 17 Posted 09/04/2013 at 10:23:47 Very harsh on Colemen; most improved player this season imo.There was a moment in the Tottenham game on Sunday when he chased a Spurs player into our box and the old Coleman would have upended him, but he sensibly chose to stay on his feet.He needs to work on preventing crosses more, but otherwise, he's done well. Patrick Murphy 18 Posted 09/04/2013 at 10:44:21 Hibbert could be brought back into the fold as full back with Coleman playing at right wing, if it meant that Mirallas was used more centrally with Anichebe leading the line, that would mean Jelavic being benched. John Barnes 19 Posted 09/04/2013 at 11:16:44 Ray, Ciaran, we looked vulnerable on the left only when a certain favourite was sent out to play there for the last half hour or so,and promptly deserted the post. But of course he is above criticism by the manager Ray Roche 20 Posted 09/04/2013 at 11:22:17 John, he also went missing at Wembley when we lost to Chelsea in the Final, which allowed Malouda to tear Hibbo a new one. Square peg and round hole springs to mind. Oviedo would, in my opinion, have been a better option. He is nearer the "like for like" sub that would have given us a better balance as well as stopping Walkers surging runs down our left.. Christopher Kelly 21 Posted 09/04/2013 at 15:32:58 Coleman has improved because he has PLAYED. It's really incredible what PLAYING can do for a player's psyche and improvement. Boggles the mind. The only reason Moyes didn't plant him on the bench for the next two seasons after a couple of howlers in the beginning (a la Duffy and Barkley) is that we're broke and everyone else was injured!So for all you young Evertonians looking to get a game... Just remember, all it takes is for a string of injuries to the players ahead of you (hopefully for a decent spell so you can't get yanked) to get a chance to don the blue jersey. Otherwise, once you're 28 and the players ahead of you retire, then you'll be ripe and ready to represent the club Thomas Windsor 22 Posted 12/04/2013 at 11:42:29 I have liked Hibbert but it is time to move him on. 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