Should Everton consider offering Sunderland’s Bryan Oviedo a second chance?

Follow us on Google Discover

Everton let Bryan Oviedo leave for Sunderland in January – but they never really replaced the Costa Rican international.

As Bryan Oviedo discovered 10 months ago, changing clubs in January comes with a risk. The Costa Rican left-back swapped Everton’s bench for a place in Sunderland’s starting XI at the start of the year but, flash forward to the current day, and the 27-year-old finds himself glued to the bottom of England’s second tier.

Sunderland went down 1-0 to North East rivals Middlesbrough on Sunday – meaning they have won just one of 16 Championship games. And that’s without mentioning the fact that The Black Cats are currently without a manager following the sacking of Simon Grayson last week.

Whether Oviedo regrets giving up his role as Leighton Baines’ long-standing understudy, however, is another matter. The former Copenhagen full-back told La Nacion that he is ‘fine’ at Sunderland despite the club’s ongoing struggles.

Oviedo has started the club’s last five Championship games – meaning he is in a good place ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Ironically, it’s perhaps Everton who need Oviedo more than Oviedo needs Everton. The Toffees simply have not replaced the 2012 January signing since he departed midway through last season.

Not replaced

32-year-old Baines (below) remains the only natural left-back at Everton’s disposal with Luke Garbutt left out of the club’s 25-man Premier League squad. Cuco Martina and Jonjoe Kenny, right-backs by trade, have been forced to fill in on occasions.

Meanwhile, Brendan Galloway, strangely, enough has been forced out of Sunderland’s starting XI by Oviedo himself after moving to Wearside on loan in January. Perhaps Everton, then, should test the water and find out whether Oviedo would be willing to return to Goodison Park in January.

With the 31-time international desperate to play at the World Cup after missing Brazil’s 2014 extravaganza with a broken leg, he has a decision to make in January. Oviedo has admitted as much himself.