Everton star Cenk Tosun thanks Duncan Ferguson after brace against Stoke

Sport360 staff 16:07 18/03/2018
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  • Four goals in three games for Tosun.

    In-form forward Cenk Tosun has credited ex-Everton striker Duncan Ferguson with kick-starting his Toffees career following his brace at Stoke.

    Tosun took his tally to four goals in three games with a pair of second-half efforts in a 2-1 victory over the Potters that earned Sam Allardyce‘s side their first away victory since December 13.

    Tosun was not with the team then and he has taken some time to find his feet in England following a big-money January switch from Besiktas.

    However, having been left out of the starting line-up for four straight games by Allardyce, Tosun has rediscovered the scoring touch he showed in his native Turkey and feels Ferguson, a first-team coach who scored 68 Premier League goals, is part of the reason why.

    “I am very happy because of the two goals and the three points,” Tosun said in quotes published on evertonfc.com.

    “It was very important to win so I have to thank my team-mates. They were great in this hard weather, which made things really difficult, especially in the first half. But it improved in the second half and we played better as well.

    “I work on my game after training with Duncan Ferguson. He was a legend of Everton and he has helped me a lot. We work together on my physique and on my shooting so I can do better on the pitch.

    “Physically I feel better and I have settled in to the Premier League and England so I feel better on the pitch as well.”

    For all Everton’s serious investment last summer, they failed to find a prolific striker to replace Romelu Lukaku following his sale to Manchester United.

    It was hoped Tosun would fit the bill and after an underwhelming start the 26-year-old believes he is now getting up to speed with English football.

    “I came to a league that continues – we had a winter break in Turkey so I was not physically 100 per cent when I arrived,” Tosun explained.

    “I worked on that and now I feel sharper and better and can show more on the pitch.”

    Tosun’s goals ensured Everton moved up to the 40-point mark and well away from the relegation zone they flirted with prior to Allardyce’s appointment in November.

    Paul Lambert 2

    Yet Stoke remain in the drop zone and three points adrift of safety having slipped to a home loss where they played the final hour with 10 men following Charlie Adam’s dismissal.

    The midfielder lunged in on Wayne Rooney in the snowy conditions and caught him with the studs of his left boot.

    Potters boss Paul Lambert had no issue with the red card and is unlikely to contest the suspension by appealing against referee Martin Atkinson’s decision.

    “I’m not sure whether an appeal would get you anywhere,” Lambert admitted in an interview with Stoke City Plus.

    “Because the studs were up, that’s the problem with that. From the referee’s point of view, he’s probably get a better angle than most, or you’d like to think he has.

    “I can understand why he gave it.”

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