“If Anything Happens In Life, You Have To Take It The Way It Comes And Deal With That”

When Oumar Niasse climbed out from his dugout seat, stripped off his tracksuit and readied himself for action during the Carabao Cup tie with Sunderland back in September, he was greeted by one of the loudest Goodison cheers of the night.

Two Dominic Calvert-Lewin goals to the good, Everton’s place in round four was already all but assured as the Senegal international replaced his 20-year-old teammate for the final 24 minutes.

Fast forward 72 hours and Niasse had taken his tally of Toffees goals from none to three (all in front of the Gwladys Street, no less), having put the icing on an accomplished 3-0 victory against the Black Cats, and turned a potentially devastating 1-0 defeat against Bournemouth into a vital and much-needed Premier League home win.