Incredible Ainsley Maitland-Niles intervention under Sam Allardyce proves Everton have a real gem on their hands

Ainsley Maitland-Niles has already endeared himself to Everton fans.

The 29-year-old was brought in from Lyon on deadline day as the main option at right-back, but he started from the bench against Manchester United.

He replaced James Garner in the 77th minute at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and played a crucial role.

In the 95th minute, the ball fell to the former Arsenal man and he struck a stunning effort to level proceedings.

Maitland-Niles has already proven himself as a leader when he was on loan at West Brom in the 2020-21 season.

Therefore, perhaps, his brilliant moment on his debut should not have come as a surprise.

What did Ainsley Maitland-Niles do when he was at West Brom?

Maitland-Niles was understood to be no stranger to taking responsibility when he was with Sam Allardyce's Baggies.

According to The Athletic, the new Toffees right-back held an incredible intervention at the training ground when he was at The Hawthorns.

He chaired a meeting of the squad, after asking captain Jake Livermore for permission, before they beat Chelsea in April 2021.

The new Blues star apparently told his teammates that "he had not joined the club to go down without a fight."

They were ultimately relegated from the Premier League, but the impact on the squad was obvious.

The gesture reportedly took the squad aback, with such a young player who was only on loan stepping up to show leadership, and it shows why he is the real deal.

How can Maitland-Niles can inspire Everton teammates

Everton's new right-back is held in high regards by Albion supporters for holding the more experienced players and the coaches to account.

He will likely do the same in L3, and quickly become a fan favourite, if he can force the right standards on his teammates on Merseyside.

The unbelievable strike on his debut certainly won't do him any harm, in that regard, as it may make others willing to step up from outside of the box.

The Toffees have been lacking goals from range in recent years, and Maitland-Niles may have handed them the inspiration that they need to step up and do the same.

The likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Garner and Jack Grealish are capable of the spectacular, and they may be willing to try more due to their new teammates exploits.