‘Must be a reason’ – Exclusive: Campbell questions Everton’s Nkounkou omission
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell believes that Niels Nkounkou will feature for Everton in the near future as the club’s injury crisis continues.
Some fans expected the summer signing to replace Lucas Digne when he picked up a long term injury in November but Carlo Ancelotti has instead chosen to play other members of the Toffees squad ahead of him.
Campbell believes that there ‘must be a reason’ as to why Nkounkou isn’t being selected but also insisted that Ancelotti knows what he’s doing.
Speaking to Goodison News, Campbell said, “There must be a reason why he’s not getting in the squad. [Ben] Godfrey is a good player who deputised really well at left-back. He looks like he wants to defend and looks a really good signing.
“But Nkounkou, I like the look of him I really do. He’s naturally left-footed, very quick and direct. But Ancelotti knows what he’s doing, I’m not going to question him.
“But I was surprised. I think we might start to see Nkounkou come into the squad now.”
Fabian Delph started at left-back in the Toffees’ last game against Burnley but he was substituted after picking up a knock after playing less than half an hour.
This leaves Ben Godfrey and Nkounkou as the only players who can play in that position in Everton’s squad and the Frenchman is the only natural left-back of the pair.
As Campbell said, we don’t know why Nkounkou hasn’t been included in recent Toffees squads but after Delph’s injury, Ancelotti may not have an option but to include the 20-year-old in his side to face Chelsea on Saturday night.
Nkounkou hasn’t featured for Everton since November’s loss to Newcastle so it would be a huge opportunity for him if he was handed a start against Chelsea and we hope that if he is given that chance, he takes it.
In other Everton news, Ancelotti has said that three Toffees players will miss this weekend’s game against Chelsea.