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Everton defender Niels Nkounkou has revealed he has been told to work on his emotions after being reprimanded for a recent yellow card at loan club AS Saint-Étienne.

The young defender joined the Ligue 2 side on loan in January after an unsuccessful spell with Cardiff City was brought to an end for him to return to his homeland.

He’s been a regular for them since and impressed after an initially rocky start, bagging one goal and three assists in six appearances so far in the league.

That’s seen him earning plaudits and we covered a report yesterday on how he has been shining in a new, more attacking role for the French side.

That came after the recent 2-1 win over Nîmes Olympique, in which the Everton loanee bagged a goal and an assist in an action packed 70 minute performance.

He also managed to get himself a yellow card in the 33rd minute of that game, the second in six games so far.

According to Le Progres the booking had been ‘largely avoidable’, with the defender often punished for being ‘a little spirited’, something he admits he’s been warned about by his agents.

“The coach and my agents pulled my ear. I have to work on my emotions to avoid that,” the Everton loanee admitted.

“At half-time he was given a bit of a dressing down as his warning was a bit silly. The referee had him in his sights,” added manager Laurent Batlles.