Everton boss Rafa Benitez admits Jean-Philippe Gbamin has offered him a dilemma.
The Ivory Coast international has endured a terrible time since joining from Mainz in August 2019, missing virtually two years with consecutive thigh, Achilles and knee injuries.
He has managed just 282 minutes of football and his Premier League comeback against Wolves earlier this month ended in ignominy when he was hauled off at half-time having looked well short of the level required.
Since then he has only featured as an 89th-minute substitute in the goalless draw at home to Tottenham – a match in which Benitez opted to send on centre-back Mason Holgate to play in midfield ahead of him – even though injuries have left the Toffees boss significantly short in the centre of the park.
“I will say that, to be fair, it's complicated," said Benitez.
“After two years to play against Wolves, a team that was passing the ball, was not easy for him. It was not easy for the team or for him.
“We had to make a decision against Tottenham with 15 minutes to go, I put in Holgate who used to play in this position sometimes.
“It was not great, we have to be honest it didn't work (Holgate was sent off eight minutes after coming on), but you have to make these kind of decisions and the players have to accept that sometimes it's like that.
“You have to go there and even if you're not ready you have to perform. If not, the only way to change that next decision is to be working harder.
“In this case Gbamin has been training well (this week) so I'm happy with that.
“Hopefully he can understand you have to make a decision and it's just your job."
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