The Liverpool Echo reporter Adam Jones has tipped Niels Nkounkou to play a role for Everton in their match against Burnley.
In the lunchtime kick-off today, Carlo Ancelotti’s Toffees travel to Turf Moor to take on Sean Dyche’s Burnley (per Premier League).
One potential area of concern for Everton in the match will be left-back, as Frenchman Lucas Digne is currently out of action with an ankle ligament injury (per Everton).
In the Merseyside outfit’s recent 1-0 defeat against Leeds United, Alex Iwobi filled in at left wing-back but he delivered an uninspiring 6.66/10 performance rating (per WhoScored).
During the latest episode of the Liverpool Echo’s Royal Blue: The Everton FC Podcast, Jones revealed that young left-back Nkounkou could play a role at Turf Moor.
He said: “I think [it is] really good news [that Nkounkou could play against Burnley]. I think it probably proved to be the wrong decision that Nkounkou was left out of that squad [against Leeds].
“Obviously, he’s still a young player and he’s still got a lot to learn in terms of being a Premier League player for Everton, but I just think having somebody who’s naturally left-footed in that position would have been really key for that Leeds game.
“I think against Burnley, if we are to, as we believe, use those wing-backs again, they’re going to look more like wingers, really, against Burnley.
“You’d think that Everton are going to dominate possession, they’re going to try and attack Burnley. I know Burnley are the home team, but we know how they’re going to set up – typical 4-4-2.
“[If Everton] dominate that game as they did in the first half against Fulham, I think wing-backs could be key to that. We all know how good Nkounkou has been going forward, so hopefully, he can try and recreate that this weekend.”
TIF Thoughts on what Adam Jones said about Niels Nkounkou…
As can be seen in what the journalist had to say, he believes that the young Frenchman will play for the Toffees against Burnley, which he thinks is a positive change.
Who would you rather see start against Burnley?
Nkounkou
Iwobi
In the Premier League this season, the 20-year-old defender has made just one appearance for the Toffees, in which he earned a weak 6.39/10 rating against Newcastle United (per WhoScored).
However, he did make four tackles, which means he has made the joint-most tackles per league match for Everton alongside Allan, while he also managed four clearances, which is the third-highest in the squad per game.
The left-back also managed a passing accuracy of 91.3% during his one outing in the league, which only one other player currently in Everton’s squad – Fabian Delph – has bettered on average.
So, it is clear that the young Frenchman is talented, and hopefully, he is able to show that against the Clarets if he features.