It’s right that Everton winger Andros Townsend has ‘been overtaken’ by other players in the pecking order, according to journalist Paul Brown.

The 30-year-old arrived on a free transfer over the summer after departing Crystal Palace and made a strong start to life at his new club, but things have quickly gone downhill since.

How has Townsend been performing?

Townsend was brought to Goodison Park by former manager Rafa Benitez back in July after the pair enjoyed a brief spell together at Newcastle United several years ago.

And the reunion got off to an extremely fruitful beginning, with the 13-cap England international registering five goals and three assists in his opening nine games in all competitions.

However, as Everton’s form began to rapidly decline, so did Townsend’s, and the flying forward has now failed to register a single goal contribution in his last 12 Premier League outings.

A run of one win in 13 top-flight fixtures saw Benitez relieved of his duties halfway through January and his successor Frank Lampard has so far favoured alternative options to Townsend.

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In his five league games at the helm, Lampard has only selected the experienced attacker from the off on one occasion in his opening Premier League encounter against Newcastle.

Since then, Townsend has made just a single substitutes appearance in the defeat at Southampton, with Anthony Gordon, Alex Iwobi and Richarlison picked ahead of him.

What has Brown said about Townsend?

Although Townsend has still been productive in the FA Cup, scoring against both Hull City and Brentford before providing an assist in the victory over Boreham Wood, his league form has been a major concern.

Therefore, Brown believes ‘it’s right’ that Lampard has selected others over the ex-Eagles wide man in recent weeks despite his strong start.

He told GiveMeSport: “He started quite well, but we haven't seen a lot from him when he has played, and I think it's right that he's been overtaken by others.”

Can Everton avoid relegation?

The sub-par performances of the likes of Townsend, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Michael Keane of late have heavily contributed to Everton’s recent downfall.

At present, the Toffees are sitting just one place above the relegation zone, with only one point separating them and 18^th-placed Burnley, although Sean Dyche’s charges have played a game extra.

The humiliating 5-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur last time out emphasised the task at hand for Lampard, but he will take some comfort from the fact that eight of Everton’s last 13 Premier League games are at Goodison Park.