Sky Sports pundit tips Ellis Simms to stake claim to Everton first team, or leave Goodison again
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Ellis Simms is set for a chance to impress Everton boss Frank Lampard after a loan at Hearts that’s been “really good for him” says Kevin Campbell.
The 21-year-old made his first-team debut in the draw at Chelsea in December before heading to Edinburgh where he scored seven league and cup goals over the second half of the season.
Kenny Miller believes his performances make him the number one performer from the SPFL who Rangers should consider signing for the 2022/23 season (Daily Echo), and Sky Sports pundit Campbell believes that would be a good move for him, but not before he’s had a chance to stake a claim to a first-team role under Lampard.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News he said: “I think what Frank Lampard’s going to do is he’s going to assess the squad.
“I think Ellis Simms going to Hearts has been really good for him, played week in week out.
“Let Frank Lampard have a look at him. I think that’s the important part.
“Because we don’t know, is Dominic Calvert-Lewin going to have the same injury issues or is he going to be okay?
“Who knows what it’s going to take, so there’s going to be a changing of the guard of some sort at Everton.
“And Ellis Simms wants to put his hat in the ring.
“I think it all comes down to whether the manager wants to utilise him and develop him.
“If he doesn’t then obviously Ellis Simms will have his blessing to go back out to Hearts.
“[Rangers] would be a better move. That would be a better move for him for sure.”
It’s possible that with the scoring issues that plagued the first team for much of the former Chelsea boss’ time at the club he would have kept Simms around if he had arrived in time to stop the loan.
If Richarlison leaves as he would prefer to, and with Calvert-Lewin needing to regain his form after a season wrecked by injury, plus Salomon Rondon potentially gone, there could be a big gap for the youngster to fill.
If he can operate as a new signing for Lampard it would be a major boost considering the manager has his hands tied to an extent as to how much he can add to the squad in the market.
In other Everton news, a former club figure is pushing for a current star to move to a European giant.
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