Everton winger Nikola Vlasic is out on loan with CSKA Moscow.
Everton may not be playing in European competition this season, but one of their players was in Champions League action on Wednesday night.
The Toffees’ poor campaign last season means that they aren’t in the Europa League this term, and yet Nikola Vlasic managed to play in the Champions League this week.
Vlasic, signed from Hajduk Split last summer, endured a difficult first season with Everton and was completely frozen out under Sam Allardyce before being allowed to go by Marco Silva.
The Croatian winger penned a season-long loan deal with Russian side CSKA Moscow, and he has been turning in promising displays in the opening stages of his stint.
On Wednesday, Vlasic started for CSKA in their opening Champions League group game against Viktoria Plzen, and his side were 2-0 down thanks to a Michal Krmencik brace.
However, Vlasic started the fightback by teeing up Fedor Chalov to make it 2-1, and Vlasic then stepped up to score a 95th minute equaliser from the penalty spot to rescue a point.
With a goal and an assist in his first ever Champions League game, Vlasic can be happy with his contribution – and Everton fans have taken to Twitter to discuss the 20-year-old.
Many believe that the Toffees made a mistake loaning him out as he is better than Oumar Niasse and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with some wanting him back as soon as possible – though others still can’t really see a future for him under Silva having been loaned out this summer.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
