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Ronald Koeman is well aware of Everton’s storied history - but he now might be wondering if it will have to repeat itself.

It was three-and-a-half years ago, right at the end of David Moyes’ reign, when the Blues manager urged Kevin Mirallas to toughen up.

Perhaps Koeman may have to send that same message to Gerard Deulofeu.

Moyes asked Mirallas to show greater resolve after becoming concerned that he wasn’t capable of coping with the attention a fleet-footed, speedy and talented forward gets in the Premier League.

The Belgium, Moyes said, was often signalling to the bench that he needed to come off in games because of “niggles”.

Deulofeu’s problem, however, is that isn’t giving Koeman enough reason to keep him on.

The burning issue for the 22-year-old, like Mirallas, is about how he copes with the rigours of the top flight but, in the Catalan’s case, it’s specifically to do with his willingness to put his foot in.

The key to Deulofeu being a success at Everton under Koeman is in his head.

The talented winger has the ability, few would argue otherwise, to be a threat to any Premier League defence, he’s shown plenty of times.

But as Koeman has shone the spotlight on Everton’s deficiencies since his arrival, he has shown everybody that wingers need to offer much more.

Deulofeu was publicly criticised by his manager earlier in the season for not running hard enough but now Koeman must surely be telling him he needs to tackle harder as well.

We’ve all seen it. The infuriating, pull-your-hair-out moment when Deulofeu pulls out of a 50-50.

It drives you mad.

It sent Koeman apoplectic during the Blues’ pre-season game with Manchester United.

At Man City, Deulofeu was slipping back into old habits.

During the first-half, he lacked the conviction in the tackle that could so easily have turned a number of 50-50 situations into Everton getting in behind City and hitting them on the counter-attack.

He wouldn’t necessarily have won them all, he may not have won any. But what Evertonians and Koeman want to see is that he is willing to put his body on the line, in places where he may get hurt, in the hope that he may come out of a challenge with the ball.

Frustratingly, he showed that desire at Sunderland in September. After winning a challenge on the edge of Everton’s area he launched a counter-attack that eventually led to Romelu Lukaku’s first goal.

The way Deulofeu speaks these days, with real maturity, is impressive.

The Catalan Kid is growing up, for sure, and the way he was keen to divert his pre-game interview last week, about Barcelona and Pep Guardiola, back onto Everton and his hopes and aspirations here, was testament to that.

He was saying all the right things. Now he needs to do all the right things.

And that means allying his wonderful, match-winning ability with the ball, with a steely edge.

Like Mirallas was told. it may be time for Deulofeu to toughen up.