Enner’s been a superb signing for us! TOO EARLY TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION ABOUT HIS FUTURE BUT HE PROVIDES LOTS OF OPTIONS: KOEMAN

JOHANNA KONTA got her 2017 campaign off to a bright and confident start as she breezed into the second round of the Shenzhen Open.

The British number one, seeded third here, looked sharp as she beat Cagla Buyukakcay 6-2 6-0.

Konta broke Buyukakcay on her opening serve and then again on her third to go 4-1 up.

Although the Turk broke back to make it 4-2, Konta immediately returned the favour for a 5-2 lead, and she was never troubled again.

Konta looked in ruthless mood throughout the second set, and Buyukakcay finished the match having saved only two of the eight break points against her.

Konta will now face American Vania King in the second round. KYLE EDMUND made a positive start to his 2017 campaign by seeing off Ernesto Escobedo to reach the second round of the Brisbane International.

The 21-year-old from Beverley enjoyed a successful season last year, reaching the fourth round of the US Open, and winter training with British number one Sir Andy Murray paid dividends.

It took Edmund two hours and 10 minutes to dispatch Californian hopeful Escobedo 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (8/6) at the Queensland Tennis Centre.

He will next face either sixth seed Lucas Pouille or Gilles Simon. final 17 minutes. Valencia arrived on loan from West Ham on the final day of the summer transfer window but it was the reopening of it in January - with Ronald Koeman looking to considerably strengthen his squad over the next month - which sparked his best performance and a first goal after making just 12 appearances, most as a substitute.

“He can play a lot of different attacking positions and give the manager a lot of possibilities to change systems,” said Koeman.

“It is too early to make a final decision about his future but it was a good signing for us.

“We waited for an hour and I think at that stage we needed something different up front.

“He was one of the players who changed the game, scored the first goal and created difficulties for Southampton.”

Koeman had preferred 19-yearold Dominic Calvert-Lewin to support Romelu Lukaku, scorer of Everton’s third after the Belgium international allowed Leighton Baines to score the second from the penalty spot, in attack.

The experiment lasted just 12 minutes before the teenager’s first start for the club was cut short by injury which later saw him leave Goodison Park on crutches with his left ankle in a protective boot.

“We had to make a decision whether to bring in the boy and make Enner wait,” added Koeman.

“I wasn’t happy with the support we gave to Rom from the midfield in the last few weeks so that was the reason we started Dominic behind Romelu.

“We need to wait until tomorrow (for the injury assessment). We are disappointed but he is young and he will come back.”

Koeman also backed Baines as Everton’s number one penalty-taker after the full-back initially appeared to be ready to hand over duties to Lukaku.