Back in August, Niels Nkounkou outlined a promise made to him by Carlo Ancelotti before his move to Everton was finalised.
The £240,000 summer signing told Everton’s official website that the Italian informed him he would teach him a lot of things, in order for the left-back to be ready to play as soon as he arrived.
He said: ‘Carlo called before we finalised my transfer. He told me he was very pleased I was coming over to join the Club and that he was going to teach me a lot of things so I would be ready to play from my arrival.’
Understandably, the Frenchman hasn’t been one of the first names on the teamsheet due to the presence of Lucas Digne.
However, the former Barcelona left-back is now facing around two to three months on the sidelines with an ankle injury, providing a wonderful opportunity for Nkounkou.
In the first game after Digne’s injury, the 20-year-old wasn’t even named on the bench, with the Liverpool Echo revealing that he was sighted in the stands before the Leeds clash.
The reason for his exclusion is a mystery.
Having appeared in Carabao Cup action this season, Nkounkou is clearly capable of devilish deliveries, and loves to overlap down the left flank – his game is quite similar to Digne’s, in that respect.
So, instead of deploying Alex Iwobi at left wing-back, it’s now time for Ancelotti to deliver on his promise to the Pontoise-born defender and allow him to showcase his qualities.
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