‘Ideal’ Rondon delights Frank Lampard after Everton match-winning display
Everton coasted into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup last night as Salomon Rondon scored twice to set up a tie with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The big Venezuelan scored two classic strikers goals in the second half, one a near-post touch from a low cross and the other a powerful back-post header, to sink National League Boreham Wood 2-0.
Toffees boss Lampard rang the changes to allow Rondon a rare start and he delivered in a big way and the manager was full of praise for the night’s star man.
“When I came in, he was slightly delayed. He was in for the first few days for different reasons,” Lampard said, as quoted by Liverpool World.
“Every day he has trained, he has trained really well. To train as a striker when you’re not starting, it’s not easy.
“You have to keep sharp and he’s done that every day in training. In that sense, he’s been an ideal squad member with his attitude.
“When he comes in, and he comes in today, he contributes and he gives us something different.
“He’s a different style of striker for us. A good, physical presence in the box and we need that. We need that for the squad ongoing.”
Vital depth
It’s no secret that Everton dearly missed Dominic Calvert-Lewin while he was out injured this season and Rondon was unable to step up to the mark under the previous manager Rafael Benitez.
But Lampard seems to have unlocked something within the 32-year-old that might even save the Toffees’ season.
As they lie 17th in the Premier League, nervously looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone, they could be forgiven for playing with a touch of nervousness.
Nothing of the sort was visible last night however and they must keep that going into Monday night’s trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Rondon could have put himself in contention to start and with the frailties in the Spurs backline, he could cause real damage to Antonio Conte’s side if Lampard decides to trust him in the front two.
In other Everton news, Pat Nevin was wowed by another man in blue last night as the Premier League outfit swept Boreham Wood aside.
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