Everton’s Marco Silva insists striker Cenk Tosun has a future at club
Marco Silva believes Dominic CalvertLewin can still get better as a goalscoring striker but denied his decision to start him in the last three matches means Cenk Tosun does not have a future at Everton.
The Turkish striker signed last January was not even in the squad for Everton’s 5-1 win at Burnley on Boxing Day but Silva insisted there was nothing sinister in his policy of resting players during a busy period. “Of course Tosun has a future here. Why would he not?” the Everton manager asked. “I decided to go with Oumar Niasse for a change, that’s all. James McCarthy and Morgan Schneiderlin were also not in the squad but that was one specific game for which we decided to change the formation.
“We showed a good reaction after the Tottenham defeat in a difficult game where we had to show commitment as well as quality.”
Calvert-Lewin was not among the goalscorers at Turf Moor but Silva is pleased with the striker’s progress. “It is important to remember we are talking about a really young player,” Silva said of the 21-year-old. “He is not 28 or 29. He is not yet a finished player but he has all the skills I really like in a striker. I am happy with him but I want more. He has the quality to give more to the team and help us improve. He knows what I expect from him and he knows I believe in him.
“I only say I want more because I know he has the quality to get better. I am a demanding manager in that sense but it is not just Dominic. It is Richarlison and Ademola Lookman too. These are good young players who need confidence and space to grow.”
Everton played with three at the back at Burnley, a formation that seemed to work as the visitors were three goals up inside half an hour. Silva believes it is important to have more than one way of playing but insists shape and formation alone do not win matches.
“The formation is not the most important thing. To play with mobility is what matters. I was pleased with the way we moved the ball around against Burnley and hopefully we can do the same against Brighton in the next game. They are a tough team with quality players and their record at home is very good.”