Everton manager Sam Allardyce has revealed that dropping Cenk Tosun for four games actually worked in favor of the striker in the long run.
Allardyce stated that it was evidently clear after Tosun’s second start against West Brom that he was not up to speed with Premier League football.
The Turkey international was subsequently dropped for Oumar Niasse over the following four matches, relegated to the substitute bench.
Allardyce admitted Tosun was disappointed with the decision but maintains that he had the players best interests at heart.
“It is a question of trying to be patient with his integration into this league and the new players he is playing with,” Allardyce said after the game.
“It was clear after the first game when we tried him here against West Brom it was going to be a bit of a struggle so we took him out and got him ready for coming back in and explained the reason why.
“Because he was hugely disappointed and saying why did you buy me why are you not playing me, simply because you were not ready for the Premier League.”
Allardyce underlined that Tosun’s quality and ability was never in doubt, it was simply a case of his fitness.
GOL! Everton 2-0 Brighton @CenkTosun_ (Cenk Tosun 76') pic.twitter.com/oBQxsdEhAe
— Spor Toto Süper Lig (@Tffsuperlig_com) March 10, 2018
Big Sam went onto praise Tosun for scoring two goals in his last two starts.
“Your quality and your ability is there you just got to play hard and get used to how the league is played,” he added.
“We will pop you back in and hopefully you will start doing better.
“We cannot have asked for any better, he has two in two and that is what we signed him for.”
The 26-year-old has looked a lot fitter since his return.
Perhaps Allardyce did end up doing Tosun a favor in the long run or maybe spending time on the bench fired him up to try harder. Either way, it seems to have done the trick.
