Niasse back in the 1st Team Squad

Oumar Niasse is back in Everton’s first team fold - for the first time since May 2016.

The Senegal international was an unused substitute in the humiliating 3-0 defeat at Sunderland which sealed Roberto Martinez’s fate.


Ignored by caretaker manager David Unsworth for the visit of Norwich four days later - and then dumped by Ronald Koeman after 45 minutes of a pre-season friendly in Austria against FK Jablonec - he hasn’t featured in a Blues senior squad since.

Forced to train and play with the club’s Under-23 squad where he famously didn’t even have a locker, he later went on loan to Hull City.

But today he was dramatically recalled to first team duties at Finch Farm.
“Niasse is back in the first team,” said manager Ronald Koeman.

“He did a training session today.

“It gives us another option for the striking position.

“It’s not necessary to speak any more about what happened last season I found that now is the right time to bring him back to the first team.

“He’s an Everton player and sometimes in life you need to give some opportunities.”

Asked whether Everton’s failure to land their priority target of a replacement for Romelu Lukaku during the summer transfer window had influenced his change of heart, Koeman candidly replied: “That’s one of the reasons. Yes.
“Last season was a different season. Maybe we had other strikers so we found it difficult to find a position for him. But his behaviour was perfect he played games for the Under-23s and I think now is the right time to bring him back to the first team.

“He needs to fight like every player for his opportunity.”