Everton forward Oumar Niasse has had the patience of a saint over previous weeks after still failing to break into the first-team squad this season.
His boss, Ronald Koeman, confirmed earlier in the month that the outcast had returned to the senior squad after struggling to recruit a striker during the summer transfer window.
The 27-year-old hasn’t featured in the Toffees squad since the end of the 2015/16 season when the striker made an appearance during the Blues’ 3-1 defeat to Leicester City.
After Koeman’s appointment last summer, it looked as though the Senegal forward would never make an appearance under the new boss.
He must still be wondering if that’s the case – despite the lifeline from Koeman, he still hasn’t made an appearance, and Everton have only scored two goals in the Premier League all season.
On Sunday, the forward even sat among Toffees fans to watch his team mates take a 4-0 hammering at Old Trafford against Manchester United.
The Senegal striker has plugged away in the Under-23s squad and has achieved an impressive set of results, scoring three goals and adding an assist in just two development squad matches.
Now that the former Hull loanee has proved his patience, he should be rewarded with some playing time, and this week’s fixtures provides the perfect opportunity to reintroduce him.
Michael Ball agrees and spoke about Niasse’s attitude in his recent column in the Liverpool Echo.
“He has let Koeman off lightly so far, but if he gets his opportunity he has to take to and give Koeman a dilemma.
“The way he has gone about the situation is very good and he has to be commended.”
The 27-year-old provides a last ditch hope of scoring some goals in their upcoming fixtures, and playing him in the third round of the League Cup against Sunderland will be a great opportunity to get the forward immersed in the squad once again.
Koeman needs goals from somewhere – could Niassse be an unlikely saviour at Goodison Park.