Clinton Morrison could not believe Everton had recalled Ellis Simms from the striker’s loan transfer to Sunderland. The forward was due to spend the season at the Stadium of Light.
The Toffees announced on Saturday that Simms will return to Goodison Park on January 1. Frank Lampard has sought to reintroduce the 21-year-old to the senior fold on Merseyside to boost his offensive options. Everton have failed to produce a prolific attack this season.
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Simms had joined Sunderland in a one-year loan in July to further his first-team experience after spells with Blackpool and Hearts. He will be eligible to play for Everton when Brighton & Hove Albion visit Goodison in the Premier League on January 3, subject to all clearance.
Simms had only featured once for Everton before joining Sunderland on loan
Lampard is yet to field Simms in a competitive match since replacing Rafa Benitez in charge of Everton in January. The forward had already left Goodison to join Hearts on loan before the Toffees finalised Lampard’s appointment. Simms has also only played one senior game.
Benitez gave Simms his one and only Everton first-team game at Chelsea on December 16, 2021 amid numerous absences. But the Oldham native scored 10 goals in 23 League One appearances with Blackpool in 2020/21. He would also net seven in 21 outings for Hearts.
Simms has shown Lampard what he can offer whilst away from Goodison Park
Simms made a successful step up to the Championship after he left Everton on loan with Sunderland in the summer. The forward bagged seven goals and two assists in 17 games, including four goals in his last six. He had to sit out seven of their games with a toe injury.
Now, Lampard will hope Simms improves Everton’s attack after ending his Sunderland loan spell early. The Toffees are one of the least prolific Premier League sides so far this season. Entering the weekend, just Wolves (10) and Nottingham Forest (11) had scored fewer (12).
Morrison is unsure if Simms is ready for Everton despite impressing at Sunderland
But Morrison is unsure if Simms is ready to make the step up from the Championship to the Premier League. Yet the forward has impressed the former Crystal Palace and Republic of Ireland striker so far this season and has a chance due to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s issues.
“That’s the big call: Championship to the Prem,” Morrison said on Sky Sports News (31/12, 13:09). “Let me tell you something, you see League One to the Championship, it’s not a big gap. [The] Championship to the Premier League is a big gap, especially for centre-forwards.
“I think Simms has been outstanding. When I saw that news, I just went ‘I can’t believe it’ because he was flying for Sunderland. I thought Sunderland would maybe have an opportunity to finish in the top six [of the Championship] with him and Ross Stewart.
“I think [Lampard] had to do it. And that just goes to show that come January, there’s no money there for him to spend. I thought Everton would go out and buy a centre-forward. It hasn’t worked out with Neal Maupay as yet and Calvert-Lewin, he just can’t get fit.”
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