Francis Okoronkwo shows Everton what he can do after transfer decision
Francis Okoronkwo scored the winning goal on his debut for Salford City, just three days after joining the club on loan from Everton.
The 19-year-old forward only completed his loan move to Moor Lane on Deadline Day (30 August) but was picked to start in Salford’s League Two clash against MK Dons on 2 September.
Okoronkwo popped up with the winning goal in the 42nd minute, dancing his way past the Dons defence and firing home with a piece of ingenuity which has been lacking at Goodison Park so far this season.
Salford manager Karl Robinson said to the club’s website post-match: “I thought (Okoronkwo’s) first 15 minutes were terrible, but his strength of character to have the confidence within yourself to take someone on and finish the way he did was very very good.”
Francis Okoronkwo shows worth to Everton with Salford goal
Just as was the case last season, goals have been hard to come by so far this term on Merseyside, with Sean Dyche’s side netting just twice in the Premier League and conceding 10 at the other end.
The Toffees did defeat Salford’s fellow League Two side Doncaster – showing the gap in quality between the divisions – but Okoronkwo scoring just 42 minutes into his loan move is a big statement to make.
The lateness at which the 19-year-old left Goodison Park in the transfer window suggests that the club were minded to keep him in the fold this season, and Okoronkwo’s immediate impact has shown why.
Amid an injury crisis in the opening games of the campaign, Dyche has given first-team minutes to Roman Dixon and Harrison Armstrong, with Okoronkwo another youngster who could have been brought in.
He’ll have to bide his time on that front, but if he continues playing up front for Salford and scoring at such a frequent rate, Okoronwko’s rise will be hard to ignore once he returns to Goodison Park.
In other Everton news, one journalist has expressed his sympathy for the Toffees after being ‘hamstrung’ in the transfer window.
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