Everton striker Neal Maupay makes plea to fans in self-assessment
When Everton needed a striker over the summer, they called upon French hotshot Neal Maupay in an £18million move from Brighton.
The 26-year-old is yet to score for the Blues since his move up north to Goodison Park but he is insistent that he will come good for the Toffees.
He spoke to journalists about his move to Merseyside and what he is determined to give to the fans after their support in his move to the club.
“100%, that is what Everton fans can expect from me, I put a shift every time I am on the pitch. I understand the weight of the shirt and how much you have got to fight for it,” he said to the Liverpool Echo.
“I did the same at Brighton and before that. That is who I am, when I do something, I do it 100%. Yeah I run a lot but I will score goals, I will give assists, I will fight, do anything I can to help the team.
“You know I think for me, I have realised a few years ago that sometimes I was very frustrated when I wasn’t scoring and I could think about it for days and weeks and that would affect my next game. Then I realised if you give everything and when I go home if I can look in the mirror and I can tell myself ‘you have given your best today’.”
Goals
Effort is all well and good but it should and is considered the absolute minimum that an Everton player should give every time they step onto the pitch.
Maupay needs to offer more than that because his sole purpose in this team is to score the goals necessary to see the Toffees winning games.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin injured and Salomon Rondon nowhere near the required standard, there is huge pressure on Maupay’s shoulders to score the goals required and he needs to find that form as soon as possible.
It was tough against Liverpool but as soon as the opposition drops down a level, he needs to pounce because he has the creativity behind him to make enough chances for him.
He won’t be on his own, of course, with Anthony Gordon and the rest of the attackers on either side of him but he has to lead from the front to keep Everton moving up, and not down the league table.