Sam Allardyce was full of praise after striker Cenk Tosun scored his first brace for the club in the 2-1 win over Stoke City at the Bet365 Stadium.
The victory was Everton’s first away win of 2018 and the third game running that Tosun has now netted in.
Allardyce came under fire when he decided to drop the January behind Oumar Niasse in the pecking order.
Tosun started his first two games after joining the club but was then benched for four games.
There were fears he would end up like Davy Klaassen but Allardyce revealed that he was actually protecting the striker and getting him up to speed with the physicality of the Premier League.
“He’s adapted much quicker than lots of front men who came from abroad into the Premier League, particularly in January. Taking him out of the firing line and giving him the opportunity to get to know the players – particularly in Dubai – do the extra training he’s done, we’re seeing the full benefits of that now,” said the Everton manager.
“He did it last week against Brighton and he’s the major reason why we won today.”
See More: 5 Little Known Facts About £27m Everton Signing Cenk Tosun
Big Sam also praised Tosun’s finishing ability. The 26-year-old has scored twice with his head now, with his feet, from tap-ins and most difficult technical shots.
“He’s always had the finishing in his locker. His hold-up play has got better. He’s got the whole array of finishing in his locker – heading, left foot, right foot, tap-ins, follow-ups – he’s got this knack of being in the right place at the right time and he was certainly that with the quality of his second finish,” he added.
“It looks like he’s got that knack. He seems to be born with that instinct of where to be.”
⚽️ | The manager hailed @CenkTosun_ as a “complete finisher” after his match-winning brace against Stoke. How impressed were you today? #EFCmatchday
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— Everton (@Everton) March 17, 2018
