Everton star Thierno Barry will take all of the headlines after finally opening his Toffees account in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest – and rightly so.
Thierno Barry had gone 17 games without scoring for Everton, being criticised for his failure to even hit the target, never mind score. However, his well-taken finish on the stroke of half-time against Nottingham Forest put those doubts aside.
It will give the Frenchman real invigoration to go on and make the starting spot his own, with some tireless performances finally being rewarded at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
But despite his goal, David Moyes has issued the striker with a warning that Beto could still replace him in the starting lineup in the coming weeks – revealing that the Portuguese striker has looked good in training.
Thierno Barry celebrates scoring for Everton vs Nottingham Forest
Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport via Getty Images
David Moyes says Thierno Barry could yet be replaced despite first Everton goal
In a show of tough love from David Moyes, Barry was warned that he will still be under pressure to deliver for the Toffees, with the Scot claiming that the striker won’t be afforded the same amount of time to get on the scoresheet again.
And, in a stark reminder, Moyes has urged Barry to score more goals – otherwise he will be replaced, potentially by his teammate Beto.
Moyes said after the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest: “He [Barry] will not be able to play another six games and only score one goal.
“He has been given the opportunity, but I have to say Beto is beginning to show more. Barry will have to keep playing well.
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“In the opening games of the season we were happy to change them around after 60 minutes because we were needing one of them to score and none of them scoring at the time.
“The choice was to give Thierno a run in the team to get used to the Premier League but we are really hoping Beto comes back into form as well as we need the goals from both of them.
“It’s huge for him, and it was coming – it was certainly due. He’s got to score, when you’re playing centre-forward, otherwise we will find someone to replace him.”
It’s a way of keeping the Frenchman grounded and not getting ahead of himself after an admittedly poor start to the season – and it could propel the 23-year-old to new heights.
Everton duo Thierno Barry and Beto should now take David Moyes warning in their stride
Although Everton are fifth in the Premier League table, their strikers have scored just a combined two goals in the campaign so far – and that evidently has to change.
Iliman Ndiaye, Michael Keane and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have been their main goal threats this season, and if the Toffees had a striker to match their creative ranks, it could well have been that they were genuinely challenging for Europe.
Two home draws could, and should, have warranted wins against Aston Villa and West Ham United, whilst a narrow away defeat to Leeds United could have seen at least a point mustered.
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An overview of Thierno Barry's Everton display vs Nottingham Forest.
Credit: Getty Images/ Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport.
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That would have seen Everton have five more points, which would have put them within four points of leaders Arsenal.
Barring a bizarre loss to Newcastle United, Everton have won to nil four times in their last five games.
And if the goals can keep flowing, that could see the Toffees make a real case in point for Europe.
Barry and Beto have been given the chance to prove that and they could even work in tandem under David Moyes to see Toffees fans get their passports out of the drawer for next season.
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