Everton’s Europa League quest resumes on Thursday – and no one is looking forward to the tie against Young Boys more than Arouna Kone.
The striker is eager to be involved at the Stade de Suisse after missing all but one of the Blues’ group games – he made his comeback from injury in the dead-rubber at home to FC Krasnodar when progression through to the knockout round was already secured.
Europa League football has seemed to evade Kone throughout his travelled career. Three times he has helped teams qualify for the competition – only to find himself playing for another club the following season.
Now he hopes that all changes as Everton prepare for a trip to Bern for the first leg of their last-32 tie.
The return game is at Goodison seven days later and, if Everton were to overcome the Swiss outfit, it is a quick turnaround for the last-16 ties which then take place on the 12 and 19 March respectively.
“I’m really happy that we got through the group stages and that now I will have a chance to play more games in this competition,” Kone told evertontv. “I’m excited about that prospect and hopefully we can go as far as we possibly can in the knockout phase of the tournament.
“It’s funny though looking back at my career because I have been a bit unfortunate with European tournaments.
“I managed to qualify with Seville then I was loaned to Hannover in Germany, so I didn’t play the following year.
“It was the same with Levante – we came seventh in the league, got into the Europa League and then I signed for Wigan. Then with Wigan we won the FA Cup and I signed for Everton.
“I have missed out on various European campaigns through things that have happened in my career, so I am looking forward to this occasion.”
Kone’s only goal for Everton was scored in December against Newcastle United.
He has been used sparingly by Roberto Martinez since overcoming his knee injury and hasn’t featured for the Blues since making a late appearance from the substitutes’ bench at Crystal Palace last month.
“I’ve not set any targets in terms of a figure [for goals]. It’s about trying to get fully 100 per cent fit, play as many games as possible and then hopefully the goals will come,” added Kone when asked about his personal ambitions for the remainder of the season.
“I want to finish the season well and then it is all about starting well next year with a good pre-season. That’s probably when I can start thinking about setting a target in terms of what I should be able to achieve based upon my form earlier in my career.”
