Results did not quite go to plan, but Beni Baningime will forever be indebted to interim Everton boss David Unsworth.
David Unsworth’s reign was not a happy one for most Everton players as results deteriorated further prior to Wednesday’s defeat of West Ham United.
But Beni Baningime may have a slightly different view, given the opportunities that came his way under the former Toffees star.
Having previously worked with Everton’s youth team, part of Unsworth’s brief was to promote some of the club’s younger stars during his tenure – and, while his brave calls were not always rewarded, Baningime certainly benefited.
New Everton manager Sam Allardyce may well opt against using the teenage midfielder, but that is considerably more difficult now that he is an established member of the first team squad.
Baningime had never featured in a matchday squad under Ronald Koeman, but he has now made six appearances for Everton – four of them as a starter – and was on the bench against West Ham. He was undoubtedly the big winner of Unsworth’s time in charge.
Unsworth will wish he was able to please the majority of Evertonians as he did Baningime, but the 19-year-old will at least forever be indebted to his now former first team manager. And Unsworth now returns to the Under-23s to see if he can uncover the next Everton star.
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