Loads of Everton fans have been reacting on social media to reports by the Liverpool Echo, that Under 23s striker Ellis Simms is taking lessons from first-team outcast Oumar Niasse.
Simms is yet to make a first-team appearance for the club, but was prolific for our Under 18s with 41 goals in 44 games and his promotion into the U23s has already returned six goals in 16 appearances in all junior competitions.
The 18-year-old’s haul of 32 goals in the 2018/19 U18 Premier League season even saw that he clinched the Golden Boot award, while helping our U23s secure the Premier League 2 title under David Unsworth.
Being prolific at youth level is only part of the challenge of making it in football, though, and Simms was well aware of his weaknesses when he requested double training sessions at Finch Farm.
His heading and ability with his weaker left-foot are some of the key issues he has been working on when staying behind three-days-a-week, and Unsworth has revealed that Simms has even been working with Niasse to further his development.
Will Simms feature in the first-team this season?
Yes
No
“When Oumar worked with us previously when he was out of favour he worked with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the two of them together, for that six-month period, were outstanding,” he said.
“I’m sure if you asked Dominic, that period, working with Oumar, his honesty, his movement, his never-say-die attitude was something Dominic would take a lot from in his development.
“It’s the same with Ellis. Ellis is new to this group so we’ve had him watch Oumar a little bit, then we’ve had him playing alongside him. I cannot speak highly enough of Oumar.”
Niasse has been playing with the U23s on occasion this season in a bid to keep his fitness levels competitive, having been frozen out of the first-team by former head coach Marco Silva.
The Portuguese never included Niasse in a Premier League squad this season, while interim boss Duncan Ferguson handed the 29-year-old his season debut in a one-minute cameo at Manchester United.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Unsworth’s reveal on Simms taking lessons from Niasse at Finch Farm…
Get him away from him!!!
— Michael moran (@michaelmoran198) December 25, 2019
Niasse should learn from Simms more like
— Dave Baker (@Bluedave77) December 25, 2019
Simms is doomed then!
— Bob Shearer (@roberthshearer) December 25, 2019
With young lads it’s all about attitude and as bad as niasse is as a player he’s got a great attitude
— Mike Rutter (@mikerutter80) December 25, 2019
scary
— Bjørnen (@Evertoningen) December 25, 2019
It’s Christmas Day, not April fool’s day 🤯🤦🏻♂️
— John C Burrows (@John_buz) December 25, 2019
No issue with this at all, easy to point to Niasse earning 50k per week or whatever, but what a fantastic professional he has been throughout his contract where others would have sulked. Brilliant attitude 👏👏👏
— Dave J Reno (@DaveReno) December 25, 2019
Jesus christ! Might as well let him go now then 😂
— Mike Williams (@mikeefc1878) December 25, 2019
In other Everton news, the club have made inquiries into signing a €30m striker in January.