Signing of injured winger won’t help solve Everton goals crisis now

Everton have completed the signing of Leeds United forward Jack Harrison on a season-long loan deal, but the currently injured winger won’t help solve the team’s goalscoring problems at the moment.

Things are getting more and more surreal at this football club with the addition of a player who is currently out with a hip injury (how did he pass a medical?) to add to the other crocked players in this squad, and a behind-closed-doors friendly being played a week after the start of the new Premier League campaign!

And all this comes following the 1-0 opening day defeat to Fulham that represented a seriously frustrating case of deja-vu for Everton supporters, with a solid all-round display completely undermined by the inability of the Toffees’ players to find the back of the net.

I really don’t understand the thinking behind signing a currently injured player who may or may not recover fitness anytime soon, but who anyway is not centre-forward and only netted five times last season?

The obvious reason is that Harrison is coming in to replace Demarai Gray, who it seems is certain to leave the Blues by the end of the summer window. I’m not convinced Harrison is a definite upgrade though.

And again, the Leeds winger won’t probably be able to play until at least October!

How then does this help solve the chronic lack of goals in this Toffees team, now? The answer is of course, it doesn’t.

Let’s repeat it again, Everton need a centre-forward who can consistently score goals and they need that player this minute, not in two months time.

The stories continue to swirl around claiming the Blues hold an interest in this player or that, but as yet no striker has been signed other than teenager Youssef Chermiti, who is likely far from ready to make an immediate impact.

As the wait goes on, other clubs move on targets Everton were linked to. Bournemouth have apparently made a firm bid for Che Adams a centre-forward who I think could do a job for the Toffees.

And, Ajax are about to sign a Championship striker who is another I have previously touted as one worth looking at with the Eridivisie outfit having, according to the Athletic, bid £10 million for Chuba Akpom.

For all this, I hope Harrison proves a success this season and can contribute to improving Everton’s attacking play, once he’s fit again.

However, in the meantime the Blues need goals and points immediately or any positive hopes for the season could well be more or less over by the time Harrison is ready to play.