Kevin Mirallas has his work cut out to nail down a regular starting place this season. The Belgian has only started one league game so far; the opening day draw against Watford, whilst he played 110 minutes and scored in the League Cup extra time win at Barnsley.
The frustration at a lack of game time appeared to boil over away at Swansea, where the former-Olympiakos man was introduced with minutes to go, only to see himself sent off for a reckless challenge.
The Merseyside Derby was the last of his three-game-suspension, but he’ll have to wait another week at least before any potential game time, having missed out on the Belgium squad.
He ended speculation over his future in the summer, signing a new three-year deal. But from being arguably the sides biggest attacking threat, Mirallas is in danger of becoming bit-part player at Everton.
No one thought for a second that we would be contesting this season with Mirallas, Deulofeu AND Lennon all in our ranks. Yet that is what we have, and the competition for places in the wide areas is fierce. Add in the fact that Martinez rarely seems to pick two out-and-out wingers, and you effectively have Mirallas, Deulofeu, Lennon and Aiden McGeady fighting over one position.
Mirallas could still theoretically play up top, but both Lukaku and now Arouna Kone are ahead of him in that department.
So it’s ultimately up to the man, who’s self-belief has never been in question, to take his chance wherever and whenever it comes along, be it off the bench or in the League Cup.
This season is still in its embryonic stages, but Mirallas has to channel his frustration in a more constructive way when he gets his chance than he did at Swansea. Granted, throwing him on with a minute to go baffled most Evertonians, but spitting his dummy out in such a way means he won’t get the sympathy he’s perhaps entitled to, and the manager may subsequently think twice about introducing him into games in the future.
He still has the potential to be an important player for the blues, but failure to apply himself effectively will mean that potential remains unfulfilled.
