Everton loanee Ellis Simms asked to ‘rise’ to challenge after injury news
Everton striker Ellis Simms has enjoyed a very good start to life at Sunderland but Tony Mowbray has challenged him to do even more.
The 21-year-old already has three goals to his name for the Black Cats who are back in the second tier following a long period of disappointment in League One.
But it’s been Ross Stewart who has led the way in front of goal and manager Tony Mowbray wants more from Simms with the Scottish target man now out injured.
“I think Ellis will rise to the challenge,” Mowbray said to the Northern Echo. “As long as he does not put too much of a burden on himself.
“That’s why the rest have to step up as well.“I think for Ellis, the biggest challenge is to play between the sticks when the chances are created.
“I would never tell him not to work hard, but sometimes strikers who work too hard taking themselves away from the goal and chasing down channels, they are the ones crossing the damn thing when they should be in the middle putting it in the net.
“That is my message to him really. Be a bit more selfish, between the sticks. You have to work hard, and I am sure he will because it is in his nature, but be selfish enough to get in between the posts and finish the chances off.”
Recall
Had Frank Lampard decided to keep Simms at Everton over the summer rather than loan him to the Championship, he wouldn’t have had to play Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon as makeshift strikers.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury was very predictable and there should have been more planning done to ensure that such a surplus of number nines at the start of the season that he endured.
Neal Maupay would also have not needed to be a panic buy late in the window and Lampard now has to manage the workload of two strikers who want to be the main man once Calvert-Lewin returns.
Simms would have been content being the backup in his first season of Premier League football while having the ability and fire to lead the line in the absence of the England international.
If the opportunity arises, Everton have to bring him back to Goodison Park by recalling him because he is too good to be starring for other clubs now.