Many fans had hoped that Djibril Sidibe would get his chance to impress against Manchester City last weekend, to no avail.
The 27-year old sat on the bench as the defending Premier League champions won 3-1 at Goodison Park, with the Frenchman having not yet made his league debut for the club since signing on a season-long loan from Monaco this summer.
Seamus Coleman’s influence as an attacking threat has notable waned in recent times, while his defensive capabilities are open to being questioned. It once appeared as though Coleman was finished, and while he fought to come back strong, he can’t keep it up forever.
That’s why many expected Sidibe to replace the Ireland captain against Pep Guardiola’s side, with the World Cup winning full-back having started both of Everton’s Carabao Cup during the new campaign.
Now it seems time to give Sidibe the chance to show the club and the fans what he can do. He has a permanent clause in his contract which he must earn, and he can’t do that waiting in the wings.
Dropping Coleman is a major move for Silva in many ways, as the defender remains the last vestigial trace of the David Moyes era, at least as a constant presence within the first team set-up, with Leighton Baines far from the starting line-up.
Coleman is also a leader on the field, and he was the deserving replacement as captain following Phil Jagielka’s departure. His influence on the field in a leadership capacity cannot be understated, but Everton need additional quality.
Sidibe is someone who could be considered somewhat of a coup for director of football Marcel Brands, who landed the full-back on a loan deal with such a low permanent option attached.
Sidibe is a World Cup winner with Champions League experience, as well as being a French Ligue 1 title winner, and there is only so long you can keep someone with a resume that impressive on the bench without giving him a chance to shine.
Strong defensively, quick and physical, Sidibe would also be a better match to face Ashley Barnes if Burnley elect to field the forward wide left in a 4-3-3 formation this weekend.
It is time for Silva to make a decision based on the benefit of Everton’s short-term aims, by selecting Sidibe and letting him show everyone what he can do in the Premier League.
