Everton substitute Oumar Niasse goes from joke figure to unlikely hero after late Goodison Park double against Bournemouth sees Toffees pick up win

  • Oumar Niasse signed for Everton for £13.5million from Lokomotiv Moscow
  • Played first league game for Toffees since May 2016 and grabbed two late goals 
  • He'd been derided by fans with some describing him as Everton's worst player
  • But two goals against Bournemouth helped change opinions on Merseyside 

It was an hour after the final whistle when, in the lounge adjacent to Goodison Park's media room, a huge roar went up.

The commotion had a startling effect but, soon enough, the reason for the clamour became apparent when the chanting started: 'Oumar! Oumar!' these giddy Evertonians yelled to greet the man of the moment, enthusiastically repeating his name.

This, genuinely, was a scene you never envisaged happening. Oumar Niasse hadn't played for Everton in the Premier League since May 2016 and but for a wrangle about agents fees, his career on Merseyside would have ended on deadline day last month. 


Oumar Niasse scored two late goals to help Everton to a 2-1 win against Bournemouth 

Oumar Niasse scored two late goals to help Everton to a 2-1 win against Bournemouth 

Niasse grabbed the headlines with his brace after his first league start since May 2016

Niasse grabbed the headlines with his brace after his first league start since May 2016

Niasse was the £13.5million signing from Lokomotiv Moscow, brought to England by Roberto Martinez, who had been derided by supporters, jettisoned by Ronald Koeman and harshly described by some as the worst player to pull on a Royal Blue shirt.

Yet Saturday was a landmark moment; having entered the game as a 54th minute substitute, he left the pitch 36 minutes later to noisy acclaim, his double strike against Bournemouth lifting the pressure on Ronald Koeman.

'I just kept fighting,' said Niasse, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Hull and was wanted by Crystal Palace this summer. 'I had to believe and give my best. The coach gave me a chance and I had to take it with both of my hands.'

Koeman, bizarrely, tried to rewrite history after the game. Everton's manager insisted he had never closed the door on Niasse, how he 'never had a problem with him' and that stories of him not having a first team locker at Finch Farm last season was untrue.

Wayne Rooney suffered an ugly-looking cut next to his eye during the match on Saturday

Wayne Rooney suffered an ugly-looking cut next to his eye during the match on Saturday

GRAHAM POLL ON ROONEY'S INJURY 

I fully understand Wayne Rooney demanding a red card for Simon Francis after being struck by his arm and suffering a gash over an eye.

Players catching each other with elbows prompt difficult decisions and ones which divide opinion.

I did not think this was a deliberate act by Francis because he did not seek Rooney out and he did not start his jump with a clenched fist, both indicators of intent. 

As neither happened, it was not a red-card offence, so it was a good call by referee Martin Atkinson.

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But if that was the case, how does the following get explained? Niasse has been so far out of the picture that his locker remains in the Under-23 dressing room and Koeman left him out of Everton's Europa League squad.

To give his situation further context, Niasse didn't even travel to Goodison in a club suit. Instead he arrived in a tracksuit. Why? He hadn't been given one. An order has since been placed but you see now why this game-changing cameo was unforeseen.

'All credit is to Oumar,' said Koeman, whose side recorded their first Premier League win since the opening day of the campaign. 'A lot of the attention is on the two goals but his whole performance and attitude is what we need at this difficult time.

'I try to be honest and I try to be straight and if someone deserves the opportunity, he will get it. That is not just for Oumar but for all the players. I told him: "Work hard and you get your chance". His attitude was perfect.'

Rooney had to leave the field with blood gushing from his eye after the injury at Goodison Park

Rooney had to leave the field with blood gushing from his eye after the injury at Goodison Park

SUPER STAT 

Oumar Niasse scored as many PL goals in five minutes as Everton had managed all season.

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Whether this is the start of a permanent revival for player and team remains to be seen but, clearly, Koeman has issues to address and his determination to play Wayne Rooney, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Davy Klaassen is holding Everton back.

Sigurdsson and Klaassen - combined worth £70million - were anonymous for large parts, while Rooney left the pitch with blood gushing from his eye after a first-half collision with Simon Francis, prompting Niasse's introduction.

A better team than Bournemouth would have put Everton to the sword and it was plain to see how demoralised Eddie Howe was as he reflected on how three points were carelessly squandered.

'We looked close to putting it all together,' Howe, whose side took the lead through Josh King, lamented. 'We just have to endeavour to do better. We didn't look troubled but the first goal was a massive moment.'

For Bournemouth, for Koeman and, most of all, for Oumar Niasse.  

Rooney was substituted for Niasse on 54 minutes - with the enforced change leading to the win

Rooney was substituted for Niasse on 54 minutes - with the enforced change leading to the win