Everton boss Ronald Koeman has claimed that Oumar Niasse can become a key player for the Toffees after scoring his first two Premier League goals for the club.
Niasse joined Everton from Lokomotiv Moscow in February 2016, but failed to score in seven appearances for the Merseyside club in the second half of the 2015-16 campaign.
The 27-year-old then did not play a single minute of first-team football for Everton last season, finishing the campaign on loan at Hull City.
It is understood that Koeman wanted to sell the forward during the summer, but Niasse stayed at the club, and the striker scored his first Everton goal in the EFL Cup against Sunderland on Wednesday night.
The Senegal international then came off the bench to score twice against Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday – helping Everton come from 1-0 down to triumph.
Koeman has insisted that Niasse has the potential to become a key player for the Toffees, despite the Dutchman seemingly writing him off last season.
Koeman told Everton’s official website:
“The boy has the kind of qualities that, when we are struggling, he can add aggression and direct play, which cause a lot of problems.
“For the first goal, he won the ball in midfield, made the one-two and it was a great goal. Nobody can stop him at the moment! He did well and all credit must go to him. He can play a big part for us.”
Niasse, who is valued at £8.1m by transfermarkt.co.uk, scored four Premier League goals for Hull in the second half of last season.
