Everton are crying out for pace so why is the England under-20 player being overlooked?
Everton may have made some impressive signings this summer but their failure to add sufficient pace to their squad and – most importantly – to replace the goals and all-round play of Romelu Lukaku means they are struggling with just a month of the campaign gone.
There are potential solutions but, for now at least, Everton manager Ronald Koeman has opted to ignore them, and one decision in particular looks more baffling with each passing week.
Against Manchester United, the Toffees were crying out for pace to play in behind and counter-attack, so why on earth was Ademola Lookman omitted from the match day squad?
It is one thing giving the 19-year-old a place on the bench but quite another to ignore him all together, especially when Everton’s problems have been apparent for weeks.
Lookman announced himself to the Premier League in impressive fashion when he scored on his debut in the 4-0 rout of Manchester City last season.
That game was supposed to signal a new dawn at Goodison Park and, even with Lukaku’s inevitable departure, Everton’s early-summer business suggested they were set for a top-four tilt.
Alas it seems a long way back to those heady pre-season days, and one cannot help but wonder if Koeman’s ongoing reluctance to play Lookman from the outset could be his downfall.
After all, the teenager was superb for England as they were crowned U20 World Cup champions this summer and it was widely expected that he would build on that in the coming months.
Instead he has been used very much as a fringe player at Everton, getting chances in Europe but yet to feature for a single minute in the league just when they need him the most.
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