Everton beat Swansea City 3-1 at Goodison Park on Monday night.
Everton boss Sam Allardyce has told the Liverpool Echo that Oumar Niasse missed Monday’s game against Swansea City as there were just too many options in the Toffees squad.
Everton made it two wins in two games on Monday night, though they had to come from behind after Leroy Fer gave the travelling Swans a surprise first half lead at Goodison Park.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin slotted home an equaliser from Wayne Rooney’s saved penalty, before ex-Swans playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson haunted his former club with a stunning long-range strike.
Rooney then atoned for his earlier penalty failure by converting a second half spot kick, handing Everton a 3-1 win as they continue to impress under Allardyce.
Some Everton fans noticed that striker Oumar Niasse wasn’t in the squad at all, with some wondering whether he was ruled out through a previously-unknown injury.
With five goals in just eight Premier League games this season, Niasse has been exceeding expectations this term, but Allardyce revealed to the Liverpool Echo after the game that he had so many options that Niasse was just the odd man out.
Allardyce named Ademola Lookman and Sandro Ramirez on his bench instead, and he also outlined his plans for part of training later today.
Allardyce confirmed that fringe players will feature in a behind-closed-doors 11 v 11 match later today, giving players such as Niasse a chance to impress and put themselves in contention to face Chelsea on Saturday.
“No, I just changed it around because I’ve got that many players I’ve got to see I’ve got to see one after another when I can,” said Allardyce. “I’m going to put on an 11 v 11 tomorrow for 90 minutes. All the players who have not been in the squad can get on the pitch and play against each other and can show me what they’ve got. So I’m very interested in what I’m going to see tomorrow.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
