Time for talent who wowed Arsenal dressing room to…

Time for talent who wowed Arsenal dressing room to become leader Everton need

Everton need another leader on the pitch and this could be Amadou Onana’s opportunity to shine.

Deprived of Seamus Coleman’s influence after the club captain suffered ligament damage at Leicester City, there is a void on the pitch that must be filled if Everton are to escape relegation.

Coleman’s importance is highlighted most poignantly by his absence - the three dismal collapses to have blighted this season each came when the 34-year-old was unavailable. It is time for another player to step up and showcase his passion and maturity.

Coleman is a crucial component of the Everton dressing room and last year showed he can provide inspiration even when injured - Frank Lampard showered him with praise after the club’s dramatic escape from the Premier League’s bottom three. His absence to injury was keenly felt last month as Sean Dyche struggled to find an adequate replacement at right-back, though Nathan Patterson was not given an opportunity at the time.

The defensive vulnerability caused by Coleman’s injury was clear but so too was a psychological fragility Dyche has fought to eliminate. Alarming collapses to Fulham and Newcastle United left morale at rock bottom - and bore similarities to the horrendous defeat to Brighton in January. All three were at Goodison Park and all three took place when Coleman could not be involved.

The Republic of Ireland defender is now expected to miss the final four games of the season after being injured in a sickening collision with Boubakary Soumare. The injury is not thought to be as severe as initially feared but knee ligament damage has been suffered and Coleman was due to get a specialist’s opinion on whether surgery is required on Friday. While Dyche has no doubt Coleman will be a pillar of support off the pitch, he is a character that will need replacing on it.

Jordan Pickford is the captain in Coleman’s absence and recent performances - including the penalty save against Leicester - show he is once again hitting form when it matters most, just like the England number one did so crucially at the height of last season’s survival battle. But personality will need to be shown in front of him too, with the maturity and calmness of James Tarkowski vital but perhaps not enough.

One potential figurehead is Onana. The Belgium international captained his country at youth level and was handed the armband for the senior side during a recent international. The 21-year-old has had a positive first season in the Premier League and is an emotive character, often seen trying to encourage the crowd - particularly at Goodison.

But the full talent of a player who left Arsenal’s title challengers in awe in the dressing room after the game in February is yet to fully emerge. Now would be a good time to address that.

It is clear Onana has much to learn and he has suffered for having been required to play under such immense pressure in a team embroiled in a relegation battle. But there is a clear maturity in his personality to match his talent and while injury and illness have held him back recently the final four games is the perfect opportunity for one of Everton’s brightest stars to move up a gear and take responsibility for saving the club that placed such faith in his ability - both in terms of a run of statement performances in the Blues’ time of need and in fully showcasing his leadership qualities.

Richarlison was the talisman for last season’s fightback - Onana has everything needed to make himself the hero of this campaign.

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