BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks has compared Bernard with Everton great Colin Harvey, following an impactful display from the Brazilian midfielder against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Bernard returned to the starting line-up for the second time under Carlo Ancelotti for the visit of the Seagulls to Goodison Park, having been left on the bench at Newcastle United and omitted from the squad against Manchester City following a knee injury during the warm-up.
The £120,000-per-week talent would run the game from the left-wing at the weekend, having looked very sharp and was often involved in our best attacking play despite not registering a goal or an assist.
His efforts left Crooks recollecting the days Harvey would thunder around Goodison Park in Royal Blue, having emerged from our academy to write his name in club history as part of the 1966 FA Cup-winning side.
“This lad was only on the pitch for 72 minutes but the impact he made on Everton against a resilient Brighton side was clear,” Crooks noted in his column for BBC Sport.
“Bernard buzzed around Goodison Park like the legendary Colin Harvey used to – and he had to do it without players of the calibre of Alan Ball or Howard Kendall supporting him.
“That’s the problem for new manager Carlo Ancelotti – Everton lack quality in midfield, Bernard apart.”
Was Bernard our MOTM against Brighton?
Yes
No
Bernard may not have scored or assisted a goal against Brighton, but he did register four key passes and create one big chance to beat Mat Ryan, per Sofa Score statistics.
The Belo Horizonte-born 27-year-old also won six of his eight ground duels, found teammates with two of three long passes, delivered two crosses, saw his sole shot blocked and beat opposition players with each of his three dribbles.
In other Everton news, a £6million player is ‘close’ to securing a deal to leave Goodison Park this month.