Will Niasse show Palace what they missed this weekend?

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Crystal Palace missed out on the striker on Deadline Day and it could come back to haunt them this weekend.

Oumar Niasse of Everton celebrates scoring his side’s second goal during the Premier League match between Everton and AFC Bournemouth at Goodison Park on September 23, 2017.

Bottom club Crystal Palace host Everton this weekend with the Toffees bringing a striker who could have been playing at Selhurst Park this season.

Oumar Niasse was out of favour under former manager Ronald Koeman. He was forced to train with the under 23s and didn’t even have a locker. Niasse spent the second half of last season on loan at Hull City and Palace had agreed a £7m fee with the Toffees on deadline day, only for the move to fall through right at the death due, as reported in the Daily Mail.

The loan spell at Hull revived the Senegalese ‘s career and he managed to win Koeman, and the Dutchman’s caretaker successor, David Unsworth, over – scoring five goals in just eight appearances this season.

Oumar Niasse of Hull City celebrates as he scores their second goal during the Premier League match between Hull City and Swansea City at KCOM Stadium on March 11, 2017.

Everton have struggled to replace Romelu Lukaku but Niasse has stepped up recently and scored crucial goals, including a brace against Bournemouth back in September.

Niasse will arrive at Selhurst Park as one of Everton’s in form players and will still feel he has a point to prove. Since his £13m arrival from Lokomotiv Moscow, Roberto Martinez and Ronald Koeman weren’t convinced by him while the Eagles weren’t prepared to pay the money to secure his signature.

If his form over the past 10 months is anything to go by, Palace could have really done with the 27 year-old. A rapid goal threat, with real physical presence up front, and with Christian Benteke injured, they’d have had a more appropriate forward to come in rather than the wingers Roy Hodgson has moved up front lately.

Palace are six points adrift of safety, and will be hoping the missed opportunity that is Niasse won’t be underlined on Saturday, while a win for Unsworth’s men could see them climb to 12th.