Everton Boss Counting On Kone To Deliver

With a scoring record of one in three in his maiden Premier League season, 2013/14 has the potential to be a massive year for Everton's Arouna Kone.

Having both won the FA Cup and suffered relegation with Wigan, the Ivory Coast striker endured a week of mixed fortunes in May.  Come the season’s end and the opening of the transfer window, Kone followed manager Roberto Martinez to Everton, who had to pay the Latics a fee of £5 million for his services.

Whilst a constant thorn in the side of top flight defences last year, the 29-year-old has not always been so effective.  After joining Sevilla from PSV Eindhoven in 2007, Kone scored just one goal in 21 La Liga games during his first season in Spain.  One year later he would suffer a serious knee injury that severely hampered the rest of his career at the club.  Unable to regain a regular starting place, he left Sevilla having scored just two goals in 47 games in all competitions.

A loan spell at Levante was where Kone regained his form, finding the net 17 times in 39 appearances.  The striker’s impact at the Valencia-based club was undeniable, as his goals helped them finish sixth in the league and qualify for the Europa League for the first time in their history.  Coincidentally, he would achieve a similar feat with Wigan, despite the Latics’ qualification coming through winning the FA Cup.

European football has narrowly evaded Everton’s grasp in recent seasons.  The Toffees will hope Kone’s ability to secure it for a team will continue with them, and that the striker’s experience of playing in the Champions League shines through.

A new era is beginning at Goodison Park under Roberto Martinez, who will depend upon Arouna Kone to help him meet the Merseyside club’s high expectations.

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