Steve Stone believes Amadou Onana shouldn’t have played for Everton so much last season.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, the Toffees coach admitted that he would have been better off ‘dipping in and out’ of the team, however their form and lack of squad depth meant it was a ‘necessity’ to put him in.
Onana joined Everton for £33 million from Lille last summer and went onto make 29 starts in the Premier League, becoming one of their best players as they narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the season.
Despite exceptional performances that have since linked the midfielder to the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea, Stone thinks he would have benefitted from sitting on the bench more often.
“For somebody like Ama with what he’s got we’ve got to calm it down because you’ve got to remember he’s only played 30 odd games in terms of starts in the Premier League,” He told the ECHO.
“People are getting ahead of themselves and trying to look for too much from someone who hasn’t had that many Premier League starts yet.
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“As coaching staff we’ve looked at his history, where he’s played before, where he’s got to now and he’s developing at the right pace. Probably at another club who wouldn’t need to put him in all the time, he would probably be dipping in and out of the team and learning his trade, watching other players within the squad.
“But we’ve put him in. One, because we believe in him but two, because it’s been a necessity as well.”
Did Amadou Onana save Everton last season?
Amadou Onana was thrust into the limelight at Goodison Park and played a huge part in saving their Premier League status.
Many fans will disagree with Steve Stone’s claims due to the Belgian’s brilliant debut campaign, though they could have been seeing a much more developed, mature player next season if he had had more of a chance to settle into the squad.
Like Stone said, his inclusion was a necessity for the struggling club and made a huge difference to their position in the top flight.
If Onana links up with one of the Premier League’s giants this summer then it will be interesting to see how he takes the pressure and hefty price tag placed upon him, only a year after making a huge move to England.