Everton defender Phil Jagielka has urged patience with Cenk Tosun following the player’s stuttering start on Merseyside.
Tosun was signed by the Toffees in the January transfer window for a fee in the region of £25m. However, since his move from Besiktas, he has flattered to deceive and is yet to net his first goal in English football.
The Turkish international enjoyed a strong first half of the season with Besiktas but has had no such luck at Everton thus far. However, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo, experienced Toffees defender Jagielka feels Tosun will improve.
I think it’s a little bit early, he’s not played that much. There were signs in the Spurs game but then we didn’t play well as a team and that didn’t help him. And then the West Brom game you all know can be one of the toughest games as a striker, they’ve got physical players all over the back four.
The games he’s been given haven’t been the easiest for different reasons so it’s a case of biding his time, he’s doing well in training, he’s settling in and also think that it’s a good thing because if we’re doing well enough without him it gives him a bit more time to get to know us and slowly get into the team.
Jagielka also praised Oumar Niasse, who has been in decent form since the arrival of Tosun at Goodison Park.
If you look at Oumar Niasse, he’s scored, got a couple of assists and probably could’ve scored more (since Tosun arrived) so on form he doesn’t deserve not to play.
Competition for the attacking places is currently fierce and Tosun will need to take the chances that come his way between now and the end of the season if he is to establish himself in Sam Allardyce’s plans for the here and now.
Jagielka feels as though Tosun has much to learn yet about the Premier League but also expressed his confidence that he will be a success for Everton.
The lads who’ve played get some lighter training and the lads who have been injured get lots of sessions in so they can try and recover from injury as quick as they can. But yes it will give Cenk a better understanding of the players he’s playing with and give his team-mates a better understanding of his qualities.
There’s many a player who’s come and struggled in the Premier League in the beginning and then been a huge success later on.
