Marco Silva insists that Cenk Tosun still has a future with Everton.
The Turkish international has struggled to hold down a first team place this season, featuring 18 times and scoring just twice.
When asked whether the 27-year-old still was still part of his plans at Goodison Park, however, Silva was adamant in his response.
Speaking in a press conference, as quoted in the Irish Examiner, he said: “Yes. Why not?
“It was not just Cenk Tosun who was out of the squad [against Burnley]. It is part of my decisions and for this match, for the squad list, I have decided to go with Niasse [who was an unused substitute].
“Let’s see what I will do [for the Brighton game] and in the next matches as well. But it is not because one player stays one match out of the squad list that he doesn’t have a future in our club.
“I have to decide. It’s just I can put 18 in the squad list and I have to decide what is the best solution for each match.”
OPINION
Despite Silva’s protestations, Tosun’s days on Merseyside are probably numbered. The Turk has really struggled since he was signed by Sam Allardyce last January, and with the sudden spike in form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, he looks to have lost his spot in Silva’s frontline altogether. The young English striker may not be Everton’s solution to their long term search for a striker, and they may invest again, either in January or next summer, but Tosun looks to be out of favour and things are likely to get worse for him. The Toffees cannot fault his work rate, and his effort when called upon has been exemplary, but he doesn’t seem to fit into Silva’s vision of his side, and far too often his performance levels are just not up to scratch. With Oumar Niasse rumoured be heading for the exit this winter, Tosun is likely to stick around for a little bit longer, but it’s only a matter of time before Silva ships him off too.