Tim Iroegbunam’s role at Everton has grown steadily in recent months, despite speculation over his future during the summer.

The midfielder was tipped for a possible loan move to Sheffield United, but a switch never materialised. Since then, he has featured regularly under David Moyes, starting four of Everton’s seven league fixtures and appearing from the bench in two more. The only game he has missed so far was the controversial Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool.

He returned to the lineup for the Carabao Cup clash with Wolves, but it proved to be a frustrating night for both the player and his team. Everton were knocked out of the competition after a 2-0 defeat at Molineux, squandering several chances to get back into the tie.

Iroegbunam had one of the game’s clearer openings in the 78th minute when Jake O’Brien created space with some clever play on the right before squaring the ball. However, the 22-year-old misfired badly, dragging his effort wide. Sky Sports co-commentator Dave Edwards described the attempt as “a comical finish,” remarking that such errors are rare at Premier League level.

For Iroegbunam, the key now will be to recover quickly and prove he can still be trusted as a regular starter. The former Aston Villa academy graduate has shown promise, but missed opportunities like this underline the need for greater composure in front of goal.

Moyes’ decision to make seven changes for the tie also backfired, with Everton struggling to find rhythm against a Wolves side battling at the wrong end of the table. While Iroegbunam will take criticism for his miss, the truth is the whole team underperformed on a night that ended their hopes of Carabao Cup success.

With only the FA Cup left as a realistic chance of silverware, Everton must regroup quickly and focus on finding consistency in the league. For Iroegbunam, the challenge is simple: bounce back, learn from the setback, and show he can play a central role in Moyes’ plans.