Ronald Koeman: 'No regrets over Oumar Niasse'

Everton manager Ronald Koeman has insisted that he has no regrets about his decision to leave Oumar Niasse out of his squad for the Europa League.

The 27-year-old moved to Goodison Park from Lokomotiv Moscow in February 2016 but initially struggled to adapt to life in England, making just five Premier League appearances before being demoted to the Under-23s squad later that year.

Niasse spent the second half of last season out on loan at Hull City and had been expected to remain out of Koeman's first-team plans this year, but was thrown a lifeline this month as he was named in the squad for the EFL Cup encounter with Sunderland.

The Senegal international came off the bench to score as his side claimed a 3-0 victory and he was the hero again last weekend, scoring both goals in a late cameo to secure them a 2-1 win over Bournemouth.

Asked if he is now ruing the decision to not name Niasse in his European squad this term, Koeman told reporters: "No, because we had to make that decision a long time ago.

"At that time his situation was not the situation of now. In life you don't get a second chance, you have to decide."

Everton welcome Apollon Limassol to Goodison Park tomorrow night looking to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat at Atalanta earlier this month.