The Everton forward remains determined to notch his first goal for Blues and received a huge ovation from fans at Hill Dickinson Stadium after he was taken off against Fulham
Thierno Barry played through the pain barrier against Fulham
Thierno Barry played through the pain barrier against Fulham
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Thierno Barry may still be waiting for his first Premier League goal but Everton’s summer signing from Villarreal has already proved he can handle the pain barrier.
The France U21 striker thought he had broken his duck last time out in a 2-0 win over Fulham only for an offside flag to deny him. But that came in the same game as something far more painful - a shoulder dislocation that the training staff popped back in to allow him to return to the action, endearing him to the Everton faithful.
“When I was towards the side of the pitch, I touched the ball, and when I touched it, my arm went up and my shoulder was dislocated,” Barry explained. “I fell to the ground.
“I asked the staff to wait to see how it was because I really wanted to continue. I just wanted to stay on the pitch and try to score. With the passion on the pitch, you don’t feel the pain. You feel it after the game, maybe, but on the pitch, you don’t feel it.”
Having taken one for the team to get back into the fray, he was substituted 11 minutes from time to massive acclaim from the Everton fans, who appreciated the commitment to the cause. The fans clapped Barry off the field, leaving him thrilled with the reaction.
He told evertonfc.com: “I was not expecting that because I didn’t score.
“Normally, when you score, you have the ovation. But I’m really happy and I want to do more, to have another ovation but after a goal. I’m very happy because I like to be close to the fans. When the fans are with you, you can do more things on the pitch, and you have more confidence.
“You can do what you want, and the fans are happy with you. You can do crazy things and score crazy goals. You have a connection with the club.”
All he has to do now is find the net, with his next chance coming on Monday night at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Eight league games without a goal is a stat he wants to put right soon, even if he thought he had done it two weeks ago.
“When I scored and I saw the offside, I said: ‘No, it’s not possible!’
“But I’m close because against Sunderland I had the chance to score.
“And then I scored and I was bit offside, so I think I’m close and I just need to wait for this moment.
“I think I had a good game. I helped the team a lot with my pressing. I really wanted to score in this game, but it didn’t happen. We got the victory, which is the most important thing, and I was very happy with the ovation of the fans.”