Hordes of Everton fans have been reacting on social media, after Theo Walcott claimed Moise Kean is starting to show what he is all about after scoring his maiden Blues goal in Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle United.
Kean moved to Goodison Park in the summer for a potential £27.5million, with Marco Silva and Director of Football Marcel Brands targeting the 19-year-old after he struck eight goals in 21 first-team games for Serie A giants Juventus and two in three senior appearances with Italy.
Silva struggled to get the best out of the Vercelli-born prospect, though, with the Portuguese failing to see Kean find the back of the net in any of his 14 outings across all competitions – of which only four came as part of the starting line-up.
Carlo Ancelotti has already shown a much greater willingness to hand Kean a pivotal place in his plans at Goodison Park, with the Italian awarding his compatriot starting roles in three of the seven games he has overseen at the helm.
Kean’s most recent outing in Royal Blue also returned his first goal for the club when he connected with Bernard on the edge of Newcastle’s box, before slotting the ball home past Martin Dubravka to open the scoring.
Should Ancelotti persist with Kean and DCL at striker?
Yes
No
Walcott is confident that Tuesday night’s display was just a taste of what Kean will be capable of producing at Goodison Park in years to come, with the £100,000-per-week ex-England international lauding the teenager for his relentless effort.
“He is working really hard in training every day, we see some mad stuff he does with the ball and what he can do, the power he has,” Walcott remarked to the club’s official website.
“What I liked against Newcastle was his workrate, winning the ball back, working hard for the team and being a solid unit up there along with Dom [Calvert-Lewin], who has been so reliable for us all season.
“I am pleased for Moise. He took the goal well and it will bring more and more confidence. He is a young kid – we just need to let them develop and enjoy their football and the best will come out.
“It will take time coming from Italy [but] he will be fine, he is working hard and has a good young team behind him.”
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Walcott’s remark…
Giving the person on the ball an option isn’t mad yeno it’s what ye supposed to do @theowalcott
— ✖️ (@joe78__) January 23, 2020
We have a front 3 who work 10 times harder
— Chris (@Cwebb_1980) January 23, 2020
Watch and learn theo
— Brian sweeney (@SweeneyBlueboy) January 23, 2020
Great stuff! Can Theo do some Mad stuff as well, like put that round thing in the back of the net!
— Maxy (@MaxyMj3669) January 23, 2020
Can’t believe people were actually writing him off
— Matthew Ellison (@matthewellison0) January 23, 2020
I hope he’s not taking any advice from Walcott.
— TheEvertonGamer (@Rdjnewton85) January 23, 2020
The reason he has so much support from us fans is because he has the characteristics we look for in a young player strength pace fire in his belly a willingness to work hard everyday he is brave as a lion and he gets our club and plays for the badge
— Graham Davies (@GrahamDavies4) January 23, 2020
Coming from a player that averages 3.8 air shots per game. High praise indeed.
— Newell’s | Cultura Del Terrazzo (@NewellsPrints) January 23, 2020
In other Everton news, the club are opposed to spending £35million to land Ancelotti’s primary January target.