Henry Onyekuru has returned to Anderlecht despite disagreeing with Everton about the winger needing surgery, according to DH.be.
The Belgian news website claim that Onyekuru who was at Anderlecht on loan from the Toffees in the first half of the season would now continue his recovery from a knee injury at the Belgian club.
DH.be report that the player should recover in time to help Anderlecht in the play-offs before going to the World Cup with Nigeria in the summer.
The 20-year-old made 28 appearances and scored 10 goals for the Belgian giants earlier in the season, before going back to the Toffees to have surgery on a knee injury he sustained while at the club.
However Everton decided the winger didn’t need surgery, with the club not keen on him going under the knife as it would rule him out of the World Cup.
The Toffees need Onyekuru to feature at the World Cup as it would improve their chances of getting a work permit for him.
Everton signed the 20-year-old for £7million from KAS Eupen in the summer, according to the BBC, but the club instantly loaned him out to Anderlecht as they didn’t acquire a work permit to make him eligible to play for them.
OPINION
This is good news for Everton as it implies Onyekuru is back on track for making the World Cup in the summer. The winger’s knee injury was previously a worry, as if it had made him miss the tournament the Toffees would have faced difficulties getting him a work permit for next season. Onyekuru looks capable of featuring in the Toffees team given the fact he has impressed at Anderlecht, and Sam Allardyce will not want to see him leave on loan again. However, it is concerning that the winger may be playing through the pain to get to the World Cup as it’s confusing how one club can recommend surgery only for another to believe rest will fix him.