Jamie Redknapp claims Oumar Niasse isn’t the answer for Everton, despite heroic performance

Follow us on Google Discover

Oumar Niasse was the hero as Everton beat Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.

Pundit Jamie Redknapp has told the Daily Mail that he still doesn’t feel that Oumar Niasse is the long-term answer to Everton’s striking problems despite his two goals against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.

The Toffees went into Saturday’s game with Bournemouth on a torrid run of form, having lost their last three Premier League games at the hands of Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United without even scoring a goal.

Fans and pundits saw a home game against Bournemouth as a matchup to potentially kickstart their season, but it was another tame performance from Ronald Koeman’s men, who fell behind shortly after half time as Josh King put the Cherries in front.

Koeman’s desperation for a result saw him bring on striker Oumar Niasse, a player he completely froze out of the side last season and had attempted to offload on number of occasions – and the Senegal international proved to be his hero.

Niasse smashed home an equaliser before heading home the winner, scoring his first goals for Everton over 18 months since joining the club from Lokomotiv Moscow.

The 27-year-old, who hit five goals in 19 games for Hull City during a loan spell in the second half of last season, appeared set to leave Everton over the summer as Koeman continued to overlook him, but an exit fell through last month.

Everton’s failure to sign a striker has resulted in Niasse being given another chance, possibly begrudgingly, by Koeman, and he has certainly grasped his opportunity with his two against Bournemouth.

However, pundit Jamie Redknapp has claimed that whilst Niasse’s display may have saved Koeman, he doesn’t think the Senegal international can be classed as a long-term solution for Everton – and it’s now up to Niasse to prove another person wrong as he attempts to finally thrive at Goodison Park.

“As far as cameos go, Oumar Niasse’s double from the bench for Everton will have been Oscar-worthy in the eyes of Ronald Koeman,” said Redknapp. “Do not underestimate how important Niasse’s match-winning turn was for Everton’s manager. Had they lost to Bournemouth, Koeman would have been under severe pressure.”

“I don’t think Niasse is the long-term solution to Everton’s striking problems by any stretch — but his heroics have granted Koeman a reprieve,” he added.