Jack Grealish fears Everton will be without one of the most skilful players currently in the Premier League when the Toffees face Arsenal on Saturday night.
The on-loan Manchester City star has proven to be an inspired signing by David Moyes who has helped rejuvenate the career of a player who had lost his way and enjoyment for the game.
Alongside a supporting cast of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye Everton, who are enjoying their first at season at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium, have risen to ninth in the table but are just four points from a top four position.
Moyes will, however, be without Senegal international Niaye this weekend with the 25-year-old preparing to represent his country at AFCON.
The silky winger’s absence is likely to be keenly felt, especially with Dewsbury-Hall missing through injury as well.
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Grealish has played alongside some of the top flight’s best wide players over the course of the last few years, both at club and international level, and rates Ndiaye as one of the best in terms of pure skill.
He said: ‘I’m not saying he is the best but he could be the best. In terms of pure skill there’s not many that are really like…trust me there’s not a lot.
‘Jeremy’s so good at one vs ones and Savinho’s quite skilful.
‘Saks for example is so good, he’s one of the best wingers in the world but he’s not skilful.
‘It’s about tricks or putting someone on a five-a-side pitch where it’s tight and they’re just going in and out of people.
‘A lot of wingers I play with need space. Doku for example, you wouldn’t put him in a small pitch.
Who is the most skilful player in the Premier League?
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Jeremy Doku
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Savinho
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Iliman Ndiaye
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Matheus Cunha
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Bukayo Saka
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Morgan Rogers
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Bukayo Saka
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Other
‘He would literally be in and out whereas Doku might need a bit of space for his pace, Saka as well.’
Everton will also be without another influential figure on Saturday with club captain Idrissa Gueye also on AFCON duty but James Garner insists he is ready to assume more responsibility in a leadership role.
He said: ‘I think [playing as a senior midfielder] comes quite naturally, to be fair.
‘I’m quite a quiet leader. I’ve been captain pretty much every single place I’ve been at, coming through the youth teams, so it comes quite naturally to me.
‘Hopefully, I can bring the lads along and whoever I end up playing with in midfield, I’m sure I can help them and they can help me.
‘We just want to keep picking up three points and keep on climbing the table.’