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Ademola Lookman believes that Oumar Niasse can earn a sensational recall to Everton’s first team if he continues to hit the net for the Blues Under-23s.

A year ago the striker was told in no uncertain terms by new manager Ronald Koeman that his Goodison career was over but with the club unable to offload the Senegalese striker – a deadline day move to Crystal Palace fell through – he may yet be welcomed back into the senior fold.

Koeman has already praised Niasse for his “perfect” behaviour throughout a difficult time and insisted he now gives him “another option” up front after failing to land a high-profile replacement for Romelu Lukaku.

Having netted twice for Everton’s second string in a 4-1 win over their Tottenham Hotspur counterparts less than 24 hours after the senior side crashed to a 3-0 defeat on the same Goodison Park pitch, Niasse provided Koeman with a timely reminder of his capabilities and Lookman has backed him to earn a first team opportunity.

He told the ECHO: “It was nice for Oumar to get a couple of goals. He’s a hard worker and he got his reward.

“I don’t really know what he’s like with the Under-23s all the time because I’m not really around the group but from what I’ve seen he talks to the younger lads quite a lot and gives them information and is a good person to have around.

“If he keeps scoring goals and producing the goods then I think he’ll definitely get his chance.”

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Lookman also netted in the rout with a spectacular 20-yard strike, restoring the Blues lead on the hour-mark just a couple of minutes after Spurs had equalised.

He said: “I just came inside on my left foot, took a shot and it managed to go in so I was delighted.

“There’s definitely a great sense of satisfaction from goals like that, especially with the way the game was going and they’d just equalised to make it 1-1 to put the team back in front was a good feeling.”

(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)

After announcing himself to the Premier League in dramatic fashion, coming off the bench to net the final goal in a 4-0 thrashing of Manchester City on his debut back in January, Lookman has been in and out of Koeman’s side.

The youngster hasn’t kicked a ball in the Premier League so far this season but having been part of England’s winning team in the Under-20s World Cup he came off the bench for the first leg against Ruzomberok in the Europa League and started both matches against Hajduk Split in the same competition.

Lookman remains upbeat about his own chances and added: “I very much still see myself as part of the first team and being a young player who is learning.

“I’ll get more opportunities if I keep working hard and hopefully I can take my chances.

“There’s lots of competition for places now but competition is always good because it brings out the best in you as a player so if I keep working hard I don’t see why I can’t progress.

“The manager has told me to carry on focusing on the elements of my game that I’m good at keep improving in those areas.

“I’ve set myself targets for this season but I want to keep them to myself.”