Benitez signs back-up keeper Andy Lonergan

Michael Kenrick Friday, 20 August, 2021 23comments | Jump to most recent

Rafael Benitez has revealed that Everton have signed veteran goalkeeper Andy Lonergan as extra cover for Jordan Pickford and Asmir Begovic until the end of the season.

"We have an injury to [Harry] Tyrer, the young keeper, and then we signed Andy Lonergan as a back-up," Everton boss Rafael Benitez said in his press conference today.

"He is a player that can give us some experience, because we needed to sort out this problem just in case.

"So we have a new signing - but it is a player that maybe nobody was expecting."

A veteran goalkeeper who started his career with Preston North End 20 years ago, Andy Lonergan has had a nomadic career. He transferred from Preston to Leeds United in 2011 and subsequently had spells with a number of clubs, including Bolton Wanderers, Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The 37-year-old played for Liverpool in 2019-20 and last season had spells at Stoke and West Brom. He will take over Virginia's Number 31 shirt.

Everton have already signed Asmir Begovic as cover for Pickford this summer, but have still signed Lonergan — with youngster Joao Virginia set to depart imminently on loan to Sporting Lisbon.

Reader Comments (23)

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Andrew Ellams
1 Posted 20/08/2021 at 12:02:18

It seems we have signed Andy Lonergan as cover for Pickford and Begovic?

Martin Reppion
2 Posted 20/08/2021 at 12:16:54

Andy Lonergan.

Not exactly an Andy Who? â€“ but as it gives us a 3rd choice stopper with experience while the youngster can go home to Portugal for a year it makes sense.

He will probably make a quiz question in a couple of years time along with the likes of Pat Jennings. Probably the only time the comparison will be made.

Martin Reppion
3 Posted 20/08/2021 at 14:34:57

A decent option to have.
Never played for that lot as far as I can tell.
Unlikely to play for us unless there is an injury crisis.
He is probably at the stage where if he's going to stay in football as a coach he could use the experience of working with the younger keepers while passing on his craft.

Rob Dolby
4 Posted 20/08/2021 at 15:00:01

Wonder if he can also play right back.

Mike Gaynes
5 Posted 20/08/2021 at 15:07:31

I cannot find the words to express my excitement at this signing.

So I won't try.

Jack Convery
6 Posted 20/08/2021 at 15:21:51

Mike @5 - excellent. Still it gives Virginia the chance to gain real experience.

Were's the full-back? The arl arse centre-forward to back up Calvert-Lewin? A midfielder?

Surely there's a decent full-back in the last year of his contract we can pick up.

Spoke to a mate of mine who supports Fulham â€“ I know... someone has to â€“ he rates their midfielder Zambo Anguissa and hopes he doesn't leave. Said he did a good job last season.

Olalekan Taofik
7 Posted 20/08/2021 at 15:23:43

Good luck to Joao at sporting Lisbon and best of luck to Andy here.
It is better to loan out a player if chance is limited for him here rather keeping on the bench.
Wishing us three full points at Leeds.
Let's begin our away points harvest from Leeds tomorrow.
COYB

Pat Kelly
8 Posted 20/08/2021 at 15:23:45

What are the odds he'll ever play for us? Ancelotti would have had him on the bench with at least one other keeper. Who knows he might come in 'andy some day.

Phill Thompson
9 Posted 20/08/2021 at 15:29:42

Harry Tyer played a full 90 mins for the U23s on Monday, with no sign of any injury, it'll be sad if he's out for a whole season.

Gary Smith
10 Posted 20/08/2021 at 15:42:25

Apparently a quadricep injury to young Harry, hopefully he makes a swift and full return soon.

No point cancelling Virginia getting experience, but surely young Jan Luk Leban could have stepped up in the very unlikely scenario we get 2 GK injuries.

Certainly bigger gaps at Full back. Especially if Nkounkou's going out on loan too.

Duncan McDine
11 Posted 20/08/2021 at 17:02:25

This is the marquee signing we were all hoping for. Well maybe it's more of a small gazebo or Argos parasol signing. Either way, it's decent cover for a rainy day.

Phill Thompson
12 Posted 20/08/2021 at 17:03:03

Gary, there were also clips of Jack Barrett, another young goalkeeper who's behind Tyrer in the order, training with the first team. He's older than Leban at 19, so between these two you'd think we'd have the 3rd goalkeeper spot covered, but someone thinks otherwise.

Derek Knox
13 Posted 20/08/2021 at 18:34:16

I had to read the headline twice, because I thought Lonnie Donegan, surely he died some time ago, then I thought "My Old Man's a Dustman" â€“ ah, there's the connection, Neville Southall! If he is half as good as Nev, he'll be good back-up. :-)

Ian Bennett
14 Posted 20/08/2021 at 19:08:26

Cost cutting continues. Sell Virginia potential, bring in stop gap.

Andrew Brookfield
15 Posted 20/08/2021 at 19:46:09

This is the one I was hoping for. Top four here we come.

Joe McMahon
16 Posted 20/08/2021 at 20:05:41

Ian, what we saw of Virginia last season, I thought he looked okay as well.

Mike Doyle
17 Posted 20/08/2021 at 20:06:55

Derek #13] not sure if he's as good as Big Nev, but he's about the same age.

Ed Prytherch
18 Posted 20/08/2021 at 22:18:39

Good one Derek

Andy Crooks
19 Posted 20/08/2021 at 22:22:18

Derek, Andrew, Mike. Good gags!!

Gavin Wadeson
20 Posted 20/08/2021 at 22:28:47

Hopefully, he's a better backup keeper than Espen Baardsen was

Derek Knox
21 Posted 21/08/2021 at 00:32:14

Ian @ 14, as far as I know Joao Virginia, has only gone on loan to Portugal (Sporting, if memory serves too), on loan for the season, like Arnie " He'll Be back ".

Nicholas Ryan
22 Posted 21/08/2021 at 00:36:23

Lots of people are talking about Joao Virginia 'getting experience'; however, all the press reports, without exception, talk of a one-year loan, with a 'right to buy' at the end of it... so I don't think he's coming back.

Alan J Thompson
23 Posted 21/08/2021 at 14:32:46

Good to see that we have our priorities right and if this is because young Tyrer is injured then why was Virginia sent out on loan. Little of it makes much sense from a squad/cost perspective but I suppose it is in line with that fifth central defender.

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