Everton’s Amadou Onana was included in new Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco’s first call-up for this month’s international break.
The Toffees midfielder played the full 90 minutes in the national team’s wins over Sweden and Germany, and starred in both games.
Het Belang van Limburg now state the Everton player is the ‘symbol of the rejuvenation’ that Belgium are going through under Tedesco, who replaced Roberto Martínez.
The latter stepped down after the World Cup after failing to progress from the group stages. The newspaper blames it on Martínez’s decision to rely heavily on older players, which they claim is ‘actually unforgivable’.
HBVL state Axel Witsel would have started instead of Onana against both Sweden and Germany if Martínez was in charge of Belgium.
Tedesco’s decision to favour the 21-year-old Everton midfielder seems to have worked well. With Onana, the ‘difference is immense’ and HBVL explain the reasons for it.
They state: ‘He asks for the ball in the most precarious positions. Onana always looks ahead first to find a solution there and is a bit grumpy if there are only options to play sideways or backwards. It makes the game faster, more focused. With the big and strong Onana, pressure can be put on: exactly what De Rode Duivels missed in Qatar.’
It’s clear Onana’s latest performances for Belgium have been well received in his country. Sean Dyche will be hoping he can extend the form for the final two months of the season, to help Everton avoid relegation.
