Ramiro Funes Mori wants Sam Allardyce to give him a chance in the first team and Everton’s appalling defensive stats suggest he should.
After 11 months out Ramiro Funes Mori could be available for first team selection for Everton this weekend when they travel to Burnley in the Premier League.
Funes Mori has been sidelined since last March with a serious knee injury and is now hoping that manager Sam Allardyce, like he has done with Yannick Bolasie and Seamus Coleman, will give him a chance to prove himself.
“It’s difficult when you’re injured and a new manager comes in,” the centre-back told the Liverpool Echo.
“It’s tough because you want to show what you can give to the team and to the club.
“But he knows every player, I think he has given opportunities to every injured player that’s come back so I am waiting for that opportunity also.”
Defensive problems
Perhaps Allardyce needs Funes Mori just as much as the player needs the Englishman, or certainly he needs some different options at the back.
That is because only three sides in England’s top tier have conceded more goals in the league this year than the Toffees’ 47 – Huddersfield Town (48), West Ham United (50) and Stoke City (54).
This does not make for great reading for a team managed by Allardyce, someone who supposedly brings defensive solidity but yet has failed to keep a clean-sheet since the 0-0 draw with bottom-placed West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day.
Michael Keane and Ashley Williams have failed to impress, captain Phil Jagielka is approaching is 36th birthday and January signing Eliaquim Mangala is injured. Mason Holgate is developing well but Funes Mori more than deserves a chance to prove himself.
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