Everton 1-1 West Bromwich Albion

Oumar Niasse scored just 56 seconds after coming on as a substitute to save a point for Everton in a match overshadowed by a broken leg for James McCarthy.

Jay Rodriguez had scored his third goal in five matches to give West Brom a seventh-minute lead, and the visitors looked comfortable for the first hour.

Sadly, the most significant moment of the match was the season-ending injury suffered by McCarthy as he raced back to make a goal-saving challenge on Salomon Rondon.

Rondon was left in tears by the severity of the injury - he connected with McCarthy's leg instead of the ball - and the television match director decided to freeze the replay of the incident before the moment of impact.

• McCarthy to miss rest of the season
• Listen to 5 live's Football Daily podcast
• Premier League round-up

McCarthy set for lengthy absence

Everton midfielder McCarthy has been troubled by hamstring problems during his time at Goodison Park, and only returned to the side in late December after more than two months out of action.

The Republic of Ireland international suffered his sickening injury just before the hour mark, with manager Sam Allardyce confirming afterwards that it was a fracture of tibia and fibula.

It was his own loose pass to Morgan Schneiderlin that lost possession, with Gareth Barry nipping in to send Rondon clear - but McCarthy raced back to slide the ball away from the Venezuelan.

But in doing so, the midfielder broke his right leg, with Rondon instantly aware of how bad the injury was and wiping away tears.

McCarthy was given oxygen before being carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital, with Rondon so shaken that West Brom manager Alan Pardew was initially unsure if the striker would be able to continue.

Watching on from the stand was McCarthy's team-mate Seamus Coleman, who has only recently returned to training after suffering a double leg break of his own while playing for the Republic of Ireland in a World Cup qualifier against Wales in March.

While Wales full-back Neil Taylor was sent off - and heavily criticised - for that challenge, there was no blame attached to Rondon for what was simply an awful accident.

Walcott's tough start

Walcott was brought from Arsenal during the week in to add attacking threat to an Everton side that had managed just four shots on target in their previous five Premier league matches.

He had not made a league start at Arsenal this season but was named in the line-up to face West Brom.

Allardyce - who was marking his 1,000th game as a manager - suggested afterwards that Everton had failed to play to his strengths, arguing that his team-mates had not played enough balls inside the full-back to make use of the England international's pace.

In the first half, Walcott did not touch the ball once inside the West Brom penalty area, and his most significant contribution was to pick up a yellow card for a late challenge on Grzegorz Krychowiak.

But in front of England manager Gareth Southgate, Walcott showed one or two encouraging moments late in the game.

His header, from Wayne Rooney's cross, set up Niasse for the equaliser, and there was also a sharp volley that goalkeeper Ben Foster beat away.

Walcott faces a big job to revive his club and international career after stalling at Arsenal; Everton need him to find his feet quickly.

Pardew's revival under way

West Brom remain in the relegation zone - three points from a position of safety - but there are signs that they are ready to put up a fight to stay in the Premier League.

They certainly had chances to secure a third successive victory in all competitions at the end of an emotional week at the club.

Before kick-off, Goodison Park held a minute's applause to remember Cyrille Regis, the iconic Albion striker who died last Sunday, aged 59.

Having paid tribute, West Brom's players started positively, with Krychowiak firing one good chance over the bar before playing through Rodriguez to drive a low shot beyond goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

It was Rodriguez's strike partner Rondon, though, who was Albion's main threat, powering one header just over from a Chris Brunt corner before half-time, and coming close to scoring on three occasions after the interval.

Pickford pushed away the first of those - a shot from the edge of the area - then watched a header drop just wide, and was helpless in stoppage time as the striker's dipping 25-yard shot bounced off the bar.

Man of the match - Salomon Rondon (West Brom)

'Frustration is an understatement' - reaction

Everton manager Sam Allardyce speaking to BBC Sport: "I think frustration is an understatement. I'm holding it in. The players know they didn't perform today. There was a lack of performance and we must pick ourselves up and work hard to be more ready mentally."

On Theo Walcott's debut: "Our players must understand where Theo likes to have the ball. Our players didn't pass well today. He's a great player with plenty of talent but we have to play in the right way."

West Brom manager Alan Pardew speaking to BBC Sport: "There was disappointment in the dressing room and I was pleased with that, not coming off celebrating a draw here because we should've won."

On Salomon Rondon's performance: "He was the outstanding player on the pitch and big Cyrille Regis would've been proud of him out there today. It was a fitting tribute and a great performance from Salomon."

Walcott ends 475-day assist drought - key stats

• Theo Walcott started a Premier League game for the first time since 26 April (Arsenal v Leicester), 269 days ago.
• Walcott registered his first Premier League assist in 28 games, since 2 October 2016 (Arsenal v Burnley), 475 days ago.
• Oumar Niasse has scored four goals as a substitute in the Premier League this season, a joint-high along with Olivier Giroud and Anthony Martial.
• Niasse scored just 56 seconds after coming off the bench, making the goal the fastest by a sub in the Premier League this season.
• Everton have gone six top-flight games without a win (three draws, three defeats), their longest run without a victory since April 2016 (seven games).
• West Brom have enjoyed just one win in their last 22 Premier League games, drawing 11 and losing 10.
• Jay Rodriguez has had a hand in three goals in his last four Premier League games (two goals, one assist), one more than he managed in his previous 19 for West Brom this season.
• Jonjoe Kenny (on 38 minutes) registered Everton's first shot on target in 251 minutes of Premier League action.

What's next?

Everton, out of the FA Cup, have a break before their next Premier League game, at home to Leicester on 31 January (19:45 GMT). West Brom are back on Merseyside for an FA Cup trip to Liverpool next Saturday (19:45).