Marco Silva has tipped Cenk Tosun to hit a rich vein of form after notching his first goal of the season in Saturday’s 3-0 Premier League win over Fulham.
Turkey hitman Tosun ended a seven-game blank in all competitions this term for the Toffees, coming off the bench to find the net in the convincing Goodison Park victory.
Now Everton boss Silva believes the 27-year-old could be set for a positive run, starting with Tuesday night’s third-round home Carabao Cup clash with Southampton.
“It is good for his confidence and it is really important he scored,” said Silva.
“It is really important for all our strikers (to score), and of course, for him as well.
“I know it was difficult for him in the game against West Ham when he had a chance and didn’t score, but this is football.
“I am sure now he will get a lot of confidence from this. This will be good for him.”
Gylfi Sigurdsson missed a penalty but still struck twice as Everton overwhelmed the promoted Londoners on Merseyside at the weekend.
Now the Toffees’ Portuguese manager wants his players to seize on that confidence and take the game to Southampton, irrespective of which players take the field.
Silva is likely to make a number of changes to keep his players fresh and hand opportunities to those who have been waiting patiently, but will demand Everton keep on pushing forward no matter the personnel.
“It is something we always want to do when we play in front of our fans,” Silva told the club’s official website, of Everton’s desire to produce positive football.
“I think they (the supporters) are happy in this moment. It is important they keep supporting our players.
“We played with players who were 20 or 21 years old (against Fulham). It is hard, but for them to develop, they have to play. In some moments, they make mistakes, but in this way they can grow as players.
“I hope to sustain what we are doing and the way we want to play.
“The results will be the best way to grow this confidence with our fans and our players because it is something really important.”