Plenty of Manchester United fans were pleased to see the end of Darren Gibson’s career at Old Trafford when he joined Everton in January. However, the Irish international has come out insisting that he is proud of the time he spent at United and claims to be ready to face us for the first time this weekend.
Gibson, aged 24, spent eight years with the Reds before moving to Merseyside. He only managed to make 31 appearances for the club – many as a substitute. Some fans, including myself, labelled him a one trick pony. A name which was christened to Gibbo after all his long range efforts.
The midfielder still managed to make his fair share of contributions to the club, mind. Scoring Champions League goals against Bayern Munich in the 2010 quarter-final and Schalke in the 2011 semi-final would most certainly top that list.
Gibson has even worked wonders on United’s behalf since joining Everton by scoring a thrilling winner against our noisy neighbours in January, putting a dint in their title hopes.
However despite moving to a smaller club (always the case when a player leaves United, right?), Gibson insists it has boosted his confidence getting more playing time at Premier League level.
“I am just enjoying it [at Everton] and I’m in a better mood now, I know that,” Gibson said. “It is nice to know you’re in with a more-than-likely chance of playing every week, rather than not. It’s surprised me how well it’s gone because I wasn’t sure. This was the first club I have moved to – I was at United since I was 15. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I’m really enjoying my football. It is a great club. As a footballer you want to play and when it came down to it, I wasn’t playing as much as I would have liked. That meant I had to move. Some people would say I failed at United and towards the end, I wasn’t playing my best. So I’ve come here to start showing people how good a player I am. I wouldn’t say I failed I’d say I never got the chance I wanted.”
