Carlo Ancelotti says the return to fitness of “really efficient” striker Cenk Tosun represents a timely boost as Everton prepare for Saturday’s Premier League visit of Manchester United.

Tosun’s second-half appearance at Newcastle United on Sunday marked his first football for Everton since the Turkey international played against Arsenal on the day of Ancelotti’s appointment as manger in December last year.

A subsequent loan with Crystal Palace was ended prematurely when Tosun sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The forward was named in an Everton squad for the first time under Ancelotti for the visit to St James’ Park and came on with 21 minutes remaining with his team trailing to a penalty from Callum Wilson.

Everton eventually fell to 2-1 defeat, their second reverse in succession, but after claiming 13 points from their opening five games Ancelotti’s side sit fourth in the Premier League.

“We need Cenk for some games, he is a good striker in the box, really good, really efficient in the box,” Ancelotti told evertontv.

“It is good to have him back.

“Of course, he has to improve his condition but I think it is an important sign he is back.

“Now the moment is not top [for the team], we started really well but now the moment is not good.

“We had two defeats and we have to behave differently.

“You have to feel the moment is not top.

“We have a lot of really important players out but we have to consider this and play a different kind of game.

“We need more focus, more concentration on the little details.

“The game [at Newcastle] was lost because we gave them a penalty we could have avoided and a counter-attack we could have avoided.”

Everton will welcome back France international Lucas Digne from suspension for this weekend’s meeting with United.

Ancelotti has his fingers crossed over potential returns for Seamus Coleman, the Everton captain recovering from a hamstring problem, and prize asset James Rodriguez, the Colombian forward who sat out the Newcastle game because of a haematoma after three goals and three assists from six Premier League appearances.

Regardless of personnel, however, Ancelotti – who will definitely miss Richarlison this week, with the Brazilian attacker completing his three-match ban – insists his side must channel the spirit they summoned to mount a late surge at Newcastle to trouble Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United.

The Everton boss has already confirmed goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will start at Goodison Park after being replaced by debutant Robin Olsen in the North East.

“Robin did well, he was confident,” said Ancelotti.

“He is a good goalkeeper, I knew this [before bringing him on loan from Roma].

“It was good to give him an opportunity to play and now Jordan will be back

“The spirit of the team was good [against Newcastle], at the end we had a good reaction and tried to equalise.

“We were close - but we have to think earlier to avoid this kind of problem.

“At the end, without mistakes, it could have been 0-0, which would have been a good point, considering the moment.

“I knew before we were not able to play at the top standard but we could play better, being more focused defensively, avoiding mistakes.

“To keep the game in balance and wait for the opportunity at the end

“Until the penalty, the game was not good. but it was not so bad.

“We had good control, we didn’t give opportunities. After the penalty, the game changed.”

Midfielder Andre Gomes hurt his knee against Newcastle and made way for forward Bernard after 60 minutes.

Ancelotti added: “Andre had a little problem on his knee but it was nothing special, just a knock.”