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Post by Everton News. on Aug 22, 2022 11:12:52 GMT
Amadou Onana is confident he can inject further energy and positivity into Everton’s play as he acclimatises to high-octane nature of Premier League football.
The midfielder, who turned 21 last week, made his Goodison Park debut in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest and thanked Evertonians for the “crazy” reception he was afforded when introduced as a second-half substitute.
The Belgian international was in the thick of a barnstorming finish to the game, as Demarai Gray struck Everton’s equaliser two minutes from time before the Blues launched wave after wave of attack in hunt of a last-gasp winner, which unfortunately proved elusive.
Onana believes he will get stronger with every game and revealed how Everton boss Frank Lampard has urged him to express himself on the pitch.
Onana told evertontv: “The manager tells me to go out there, bring the energy I can bring to the team, and just be myself – be Amadou.
“I want to play forward, boost my teammates and do whatever it takes to get the three points.
“My teammates welcomed me in the best possible way. I haven’t have to do much to adapt myself [in the squad].
“It was very good to get some more minutes [against Forest] and get more used to playing in England. It’s a different football, different rhythm, so I have to get used to it. It will come day by day.
“The game is more physical. It is faster, so I have to adapt as quickly as possible.
"I must say, my teammates welcomed me in the best possible way. I haven’t have to do much to adjust myself in the squad."
Everton fired in 19 shots during Saturday’s match and created the lion’s share of clear opportunities to score.
Onana, then, admitted a degree of frustration the Blues could not convert an enterprising display into victory.
Nonetheless, he says his home debut provided an unforgettable experience, as he saluted the sustained ovation he was given by the Goodison crowd when brought on as a 57th-minute substitute.
“The reception was crazy!”, he said. "Hearing them shouting my name... It was very nice.
“I’m very happy about the warm welcome, the crowd was unbelievable. I’d like to say thank you for all the support.
“Perhaps we should have won the game. It was disappointing to concede but we did our very best towards the end.
“The atmosphere in the ground after we scored was unbelievable, too. I think we could have – in the end – got the win.”
On the prospect of getting further competitive minutes under his belt in Tuesday’s second-round Carabao Cup tie at Fleetwood Town, Onana added: “I’m looking forward to it. I’m going to give my very best in training first – that’s where it starts.
“Hopefully, we can get the result we want and get through in the competition.”
Everton FC
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Post by Everton News. on Aug 22, 2022 22:42:13 GMT
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Post by Everton News. on Aug 22, 2022 22:43:27 GMT
Frank Lampard has once again hailed the professionalism of Seamus Coleman, while hinting the Everton captain could start the Blues' Carabao Cup second round clash with Fleetwood Town.
Everton travel to Highbury Stadium to take on the League One outfit on Tuesday evening (7.45pm BST kick-off), with boss Lampard likely to shuffle his pack to some extent.
Coleman is yet to make a competitive senior appearance this season having battled back to fitness following a minor operation over the summer, but did complete 45 minutes for Everton Under-21s in their 2-0 PL2 victory over Blackburn Rovers a fortnight ago.
Summer signing Amadou Onana, meanwhile, has been introduced as a second-half substitute in the Toffees' past two fixtures after completing a move from Lille earlier this month.
Speaking ahead of the cup tie, Lampard revealed both players could be named in the starting line-up in Lancashire.
He said: "It's an important game. We've got players who are still needing minutes to get up to speed - a couple who played [against Nottingham Forest], a couple who weren't playing today that will come into the team.
"[Onana] needs minutes, so there's a good chance [he will start].
"Seamus is in that position off the back of his injury. He was typically Seamus-like in that he's worked brilliantly to get fit. A game will surely help him.
"It's game we have to respect - respect the opponent and understand the importance of it and how the fans and how we should view it.
"We will approach it as we approached our last game."
Having won the League Cup twice as a player - in 2004/05 and 2006/07 - Lampard is fully aware of the benefits of a deep run in the competition.
"It can do a lot," he added. "There's not much pointing talking about it too much at this stage but I know it can be a real positive for a team to win it, to get excited about the idea of getting to Wembley - all of those things are a big deal.
"We have to understand that we need to focus on every game and Fleetwood is right in front of us."
Everton FC
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Post by rugbytoffee on Aug 23, 2022 7:44:45 GMT
EVERTON SQUAD AVAILABLE VS FLEETWOOD Goalkeepers: Pickford, Begovic, Lonergan
Defenders: Keane, Tarkowski, Holgate, Coady, Mykolenko, Coleman, Patterson, Vinagre, Nkounkou, Welch
Midfielders: Allan, Iwobi, Dele, Davies, Onana, Gbamin, Warrington, Mills
Wingers: Gray, Gordon, McNeil
Attackers: Rondon, Cannon
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Post by Everton News. on Aug 23, 2022 17:45:06 GMT
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