Djibril Sidibe is set for his first Premier League start against West Ham after the international break.
Everton captain Seamus Coleman was sent off against Burnley last weekend after he was booked for two separate clumsy challenges, leading to him being given his marching orders.
Now the France international will make his full league debut, having previously only started in the Carabao Cup, also making his first substitute appearance at Turf Moor after coming on following Coleman’s dismissal.
The World Cup winning defender has been handed a golden opportunity to impress for the club, with his long-term future in his own hands.
Sidibe signed on a season-long loan from Monaco in the summer and the Toffees have the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.
Should the Frenchman desire to remain at Goodison Park long-term, having fallen out of favour at the Stade Louis II, he will need to demonstrate his talents in front of the Everton faithful against the Hammers.
He will likely face a tough challenge from Felipe Anderson, particularly considering how poor Everton’s defensive work has been in recent weeks, and it will be a solid opportunity for Sidibe to show off both his defensive and offensive qualities.
Coleman’s successor needs to be found sooner rather than later, and while Jonjoe Kenny has performed well for Schalke this season, Sidibe has a great chance to leapfrog the young right-back and stake his claim as Everton’s long-term first choice on the right side of defence.
The Irishman won’t take being replaced lying down though, so now is the perfect time for Sidibe to show the fans why Marcel Brands and Silva took a chance on him this summer.
