Everton outcast fi nally comes good
in the Carabao Cup, and his contribution against Bournemouth was even more important. Koeman was under pressure after three straight Premier League defeats, without a goal, had left his expensive team in the bottom three.
They were on course for defeat against Bournemouth before Niasse came on for Wayne Rooney, who suffered a cut eye after an accidental elbow from Cherries captain Simon Francis. Niasse blasted in an equaliser, before bundling in a winner with nine minutes left.
“I always believed I would have moments like that here,” Niasse said. “I have kept fighting.
“I didn’t sign for another team, I signed for Everton. So even if I didn’t have the chance at the beginning, now the coach has given it to me and I have to take it with both hands.” Koeman says he never had a problem with Niasse, despite relegating him to the Under-23 squad last season before sending him to Hull in January.
The Everton manager has had to swallow his pride after failing to get in Olivier Giroud from Arsenal as a replacement for Romelu Lukaku.
Difficult
Niasse, 27, is likely to get a few more call-ups before January.
Koeman said: “Last season, I preferred to play with other strikers and we had other players in that position.
“That situation for him was really difficult. That is the past now. I try to be honest and try to be straight and if someone deserves the opportunity he will get it. That is not just for Oumar but all the players.
“I don’t have any problem with Oumar because I spoke with him before the transfer window ended and said: ‘Okay you will get your chance with the first team. Work hard and get your chance.
“That is what he did. His attitude was perfect.”
Bournemouth missed the chance to climb out of the bottom three after Joshua King gave them the lead.
“The most disappointing thing was how we managed the last part of the game,” said boss Eddie Howe.
“At 1-1, we needed to recognise the situation was different. Game management is a key part of what any team needs, the ability to see games out, to win games ugly if necessary.”