Everton’s £13.5million man Oumar Niasse could play for the U21’s as he tries to reach full fitness, according to Phil Kirkbride of the Liverpool Echo.
The Senegalese forward has barely featured since his deadline-day move from Lokomotiv Moscow and Roberto Martinez has said on a number of occasions that he isn’t match-sharp.
Before the Manchester United game, Martinez said Niasse was only at ’50 or 60%’ in terms of fitness.
And when asked if the third-most expensive signing in the club’s history would be featuring for the U-21’s on Monday, Martinez was again wary:
It depends.
Oumar, everyday is a very good day for him in terms of working for longer periods and he’s adapting to the level of the British game.
It is too early to see if he needs a game with the under-21s but we will carry on developing his programme as he goes.
It is important we give him as much as we can because it is not easy to pick up the level with the inactivity he had, with the problem he had with his wrist and, obviously, he is so keen to please and so keen to do things well that sometimes rushes things and sometimes is not the player he is and that’s where he needs help.
Niasse took Steven Naismith’s place in the Everton squad but has played less than 45 minutes since he arrived on Merseyside.
The 25-year-old’s battle for fitness has led Martinez to consider bringing Arouna Kone back from the cold.
The much-maligned Ivorian has barely featured for the Blues since December, but the Everton boss thinks the former Wigan forward has been a tad unlucky:
Oumar Niasse is still adapting to the competition and probably Arouna Kone has been unfortunate not to have more minutes that he should have.
But he has been working well and I just feel he is getting ready to help the team again.
Part of the competition of allowing players to be on the pitch and see where they are, I think Arouna has been a little bit unfortunate he couldn’t get more minutes than the ones he has had.
Everton travel to Vicarage Road on Saturday as they prepare to face potential F.A Cup final opponents, Watford.
Both the Hornets and the Blues haven’t been in good form recently but a win for either side could be a good springboard as the F.A Cup semi-finals get closer and closer.
