Everton have one of the best left-backs this country has produced in Leighton Baines.

That is the view of former West Ham United midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, who is attending the latest Premier League Mornings Live event in Miami this weekend, ahead of the Blues’ trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

While caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson remains “hopeful” on the fitness of Lucas Digne after the Frenchman sustained a groin injury during last Saturday's exhilarating 3-1 win over Chelsea, Baines is waiting in the wings after notching his first competitive minutes of the season in that Goodison Park success..

And Reo-Coker says his former England Under-21 roommate still has a vital role to play after celebrating his 35th birthday earlier this week.

“Bainesy still has so much to offer,” Reo-Coker told evertontv. “He’s a fantastic left-back. For me, he’s one of the best our country has produced.

"He has fantastic ability going forward and not many people get the better of him in defence, either. He’s a really top player.

“He’s very under-rated, in my opinion. It’ll be good to see him get a run again [if Digne is sidelined]. He could have done anything. His dream and his ambition was to play for Everton, even before he went there, and he’s done that. He’s stayed there most of his career and good on him because that’s what he wanted to do.

“Leighton is a fantastic guy, a really great human being and very passionate about his club. He bleeds Blue. 

“He’s someone who knows what it means to play for a club like Everton.

"He knows the tradition that comes with the Club and it’s so important he’s still involved.

"I think even when decides to hang up his boots, it’d be great to keep him around, because it’s so important when you’re bringing in new players to have those people who let you know what a club is all about, what it means to people, what the fans expect, what certain games mean. He has all of that.”

After another successful Fan Fest in Austin, Texas, back in October, Reo-Coker is one of the former players attending the Premier League’s latest offering in south Florida this time around.

Now based in Orlando after finishing his playing career, Reo-Coker has seen first-hand the impact the popular events have had on US-based supporters and been impressed by the number of Evertonians across the pond.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “Being here, seeing it live and being involved is fantastic. It’s a great event.

“Everton have a decent following out here. It’s down to the clubs to maximise the interest and events like this are perfect.

"It’s about educating fans on what the club is really about and what it stands for – and the fanbase will keep growing.

“Everton are also helped by having big American players in the past – the likes of Tim Howard and Landon Donovan. Huge names in US football.

"They are a link for fans, they help fans to understand what it’s like living in England, the English mentality and how we approach football.”

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