From now on, don't call him Oumar Niasse...it's Mr Lazarus to you.

The Everton striker wasn't just frozen out at Goodison, he was placed in the deep freeze.

But his astonishing personal return from a traumatic journey to Hull and back was completed with a remarkable goal-scoring intervention against Bournemouth to give the Blues a vital first Premier League victory in four matches.

Even his manager Ronald Koeman couldn't hide a look of joyful bafflement, an astonished glee at the deeds of the striker he told bluntly last season – and to his face – that he simply wasn't good enough to pull on the club's shirt.

A year ago Koeman made the Senegal international train with the kids when he refused a move, and then shipped him out to Hull on loan, before spending most of this summer also trying to offload him to any club willing.

But the striking problems caused by a failure to land their prime target to replace Romelu Lukaku meant Koeman had no choice but to recall the African to his first team squad.

Niasse hits the back of the net (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

It was already one hell of a story when Niasse sprang from the bench to score against Sunderland in the league cup in his first appearance for Koeman.

But it was a tale of biblical proportions when the striker completed the unprecedented comeback by coming off the bench again just when his side needed him most.

Bournemouth had weathered an early Everton storm and took control of the game after a brilliant run and strike from Josh King, who could have signed for the Blues in the summer.

Only a fine stop from Jermaine Defoe by Jordan Pickford stopped the visitors from sealing the game...and then came Niasse.

Brought on in the 55 minute, he latched on to a brilliant through ball by fellow sub Tom Davies to smash home an equaliser with 13 minutes remaining.

And his personal redemption was complete eight minutes from time, when third sub Jonjo Kenny darted down the right, to feed Davies, whose shot looped to the far post where Niasse was waiting to bundle home.

The celebrations were a mix of passion, puzzlement and pure theatre, and the striker who was once derided by the Blues faithful as their worst ever buy deserved his moment of hero worship, with the fans getting a new idol.

Early team news

Everton boss Ronald Koeman is expected to restore several players to his first XI for Saturday’s Premier League home clash with Bournemouth after making eight changes in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

As well as the likes of Jordan Pickford and Gylfi Sigurdsson being poised to come back in, Wayne Rooney is set to make his first appearance since pleading guilty to drink-driving.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin will hope to keep his place in the team after netting a brace in the 3-0 cup win against Sunderland. James McCarthy (knee) remains unavailable, along with Ross Barkley (hamstring), Ramiro Funes Mori, Yannick Bolasie (both knee) and Seamus Coleman (broken leg).

Tyrone Mings will miss our for Bournemouth due to a back problem.

The Cherries defender has been to see a specialist and will be unavailable for a minimum of a month.

Junior Stanislas is available again after returning from a groin injury in the midweek Carabao Cup success against Brighton, but forward Callum Wilson (knee) remains out.

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Image:
REX/Shutterstock)