Despite a boisterous start to their Premier League season, three successive defeats brought the Toffees down to seventh in the standings prior to the international break. They are highly reliant on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison high up the pitch and Carlo Ancelotti has now reintegrated the forgotten Everton centre-forward Cenk Tosun as a squad option in order to execute an alternate strategy.
The 29-year-old Turkey international is feeling like a ‘new transfer’ having failed to settle in since completing a £27m winter move from Besiktas in 2018. He has expressed his gratitude towards Ancelotti and is determined now to prove his worth after a long injury layoff.
“All the things I have done wrong, I will not do them again. I am different now. I train and prepare better to help the team more. There are so many games in December, it will be a really big opportunity for me. Dominic and Richarlison are doing really well, but they are not robots, they can’t play every game.”
Said Tosun (as quoted by Liverpool Echo) who has been utilized from the bench so far by the Italian chief.
How Tosun Might Help Everton During The Festive Season
While the ‘number 9’ was exiled by Marco Silva during the previous campaign, a January loan to Crystal Palace did not work out either as he endured an ACL injury back in March. Things, however, have changed a lot over the past few months and the appointment of Ancelotti as Silva’s successor has handed the forward a lifeline to resurrect his Everton career.
The exit of Moise Kean left a void in the attacking third and Tosun, who enjoyed an exquisite scoring run back in the homeland, might net a few in the upcoming fixtures showcasing his poaching instinct inside the box. His lack of pace and movement were stumbling blocks in Silva’s free-flowing football, but the current style of play might benefit the player if he justifies his potential.
Everton, these days, are effective from the wide with James Rodriguez and Lucas Digne whipping in crosses for Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. Tosun, too, is good in the air and his presence upfront would be menacing for the opponents during the crisis time. Having said that, the Turkish hitman is not fit enough to start games straight away and should stay content with the current role unless a drastic change of events.
