Gbamin Determined To Repay Silva Faith

Jean Philippe-Gbamin says he will stop at nothing in his efforts to repay Marco Silva for bringing him to Everton.

Midfielder Gbamin was hurriedly summoned for his debut at Crystal Palace on Saturday after Andre Gomes went off injured on the cusp of half-time.

The 23-year-old’s introduction to Premier League football amounted to something of a baptism of fire, given he was charged with filling Gomes’s magic-sprinkled boots only eight days after joining from Mainz 05 in Germany.

Gbamin had 38 touches of the ball and completed more than three-quarters of his 31 passes – the Ivorian helping Everton neuter Palace following Morgan Schneiderlin’s red card with 14 minutes remaining.

Everton had the majority of possession and created more openings than Palace – Seamus Coleman, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson, twice, all close to netting – but were nevertheless thankful for two splendid Jordan Pickford saves when the hosts rallied after the break.

“It was hard to come in like that – a great game with high intensity,” Gbamin told evertontv.

“I tried to give my best on the pitch and it was difficult in some moments.

“The coach gave me the chance to play and I wanted to take it.

“I am not 100 per cent ready to be at a high level just yet – and I need to be faster.

“I have had only one week of training with the team, so I will keep going and work very hard.”

Gbamin’s Ivory Coast team reached the last eight at this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations, leaving the player precious little opportunity to train with Mainz before completing his switch to Goodison Park.

He grew into one of the Bundesliga team’s key figures across three years in Germany.

Gbamin captained the team towards the end of last season and played 95 matches during his time at the club – adding to 98 appearances for Lens, the Ligue 1 team he left for Mainz in 2016.

He concedes the harum-scarum Premier League represents a different challenge from France and Germany altogether.

But there were signs of Gbamin swiftly learning on the job at Selhurst Park, as he recovered possession four times and came out on top from three duels in Everton's second straight scoreless draw with Palace.

Manager Silva – who is waiting on the fitness of Gomes after the former Barcelona player hurt his ankle in a collision with Palace midfielder James McArthur – insists Gbamin’s adaptation will be expedited by minutes on the pitch.

“I have played more than 200 senior games [including internationals] and I am only 23,” added Gbamin, who could potentially make his Goodison bow when Everton host Watford on Saturday.

“That is because of the confidence all my coaches have shown in me.

“Marco Silva gave me the chance to come to Everton, so I will give him the best I have, working hard and learning every day.

"Saturday was a good point away from home.

"In the first half we were close to scoring but it was more difficult after half-time.

“The way the game went, with us receiving a red card, a draw was a good result.

“It is one point and a base for the future.”