Everton will now see their international representatives return to Finch Farm ahead of their trip to Manchester United on Monday.
Iliman Ndiaye is one of those players and he was able to hand Everton an unexpected surprise on Tuesday following Senegal’s latest game.
It has been a mixed bag for David Moyes’ international representatives over the last week, with Seamus Coleman and Jake O’Brien enjoying some real highs.
Ndiaye missed a huge opportunity for Senegal at the weekend, which shocked the internet on the back of his sensational start to the season.
He will have hoped to right his wrongs in the final friendly of the break against Kenya on Tuesday afternoon, though.
However, Everton will have been delighted with what they saw as the tricky winger now prepares to return to Merseyside before his Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Brazil v Senegal - International Friendly
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Iliman Ndiaye hands Everton perfect surprise in Senegal friendly
Everton News understands that Everton will consider a new contract for Ndiaye if he is able to keep his current levels of performance up over the coming months.
The Senegal international is setting the Premier League alight this season with his displays in an Everton shirt as he leads the Toffees through their striker struggles.
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With a big few weeks ahead of Everton before the Africa Cup of Nations, Moyes will have been delighted to see Ndiaye not play on Tuesday against Kenya.
Idrissa Gana Gueye came on in the second half of the game for their emphatic 8-0 victory, but Everton’s in-demand winger watched from the bench.
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Having Ndiaye return to Finch Farm having only played 90 minutes over the course of the international break will be an unexpected surprise for Moyes.
Ndiaye did suffer from cramp against Sunderland earlier in month, with the 24-year-old needing to play almost every minute for Everton this season.
When the time comes next month where Ndiaye needs to jet off for AFCON, that is when Everton’s true strength in depth will be seen.
Everton remain confident of keeping Iliman Ndiaye
It is only natural that some top clubs from across Europe are beginning to show an interest in Everton’s star winger.
Tony Bellew is becoming worried that Everton may lose Ndiaye in the upcoming transfer window after another brilliant start to the campaign for the winger.
Idrissa Gana Gueye on Iliman Ndiaye
“I told him when he first arrived here that he can be the next African Ballon d’Or winner.”
However, the Blues are in a strong position when it comes to keeping their best players now.
It is believed that the Friedkins will not be bullied into selling Ndiaye, with Everton’s PSR issues now a thing of the distant past following the takeover.
The issue may eventually lie in whether Everton are able to match Ndiaye’s ambitions, with European football potentially on his mind for the future.