Oumar Niasse looked finished at Everton after spending the season on the periphery, but Duncan Ferguson brought the 29-year-old back to the matchday squad last weekend and may have plans to keep him in January.
Niasse has scored just nine goals in 39 appearances since joining Everton in a £16m deal from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2016, so it’s not hard to see why he’s struggled to nail down a regular place.
The Senegalese international hasn’t made an appearance for Everton since the Toffees’ 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion (December 29, 2018) and hasn’t scored since their 3-1 defeat to West Ham United (May 13, 2018).
Niasse currently finds himself behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Cenk Tosun and Moise Kean in the pecking order, but Ferguson has given him hope of a future at Goodison Park.
Should Oumar Niasse be recalled to the Everton first-team?
Yes
No
In Everton’s 3-1 win over Chelsea, Richarlison started in attack alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin while Niasse and Tosun were unused substitutes. He didn’t come off the bench, but his selection was significant.
Ferguson has rewarded Niasse’s hard work in the u23s and clearly believes he deserves to be in the first-team. Either that, or he’s putting the centre-forward in the shop window.
Time will tell if he stays in and around the senior setup in January or is moved in.