Strikers need to take their chances

THE striker issue continues to be a hot topic among Evertonians.

- By CHRIS BEESLEY

But just who is the Blues' best bet up front?

Thierno Barry became Everton's first new face of the summer transfer window when he completed a £27million move from Villarreal on July 9. On signing, the France Under-21 international stated how there had been "good conversations" between himself and David Moyes, who had told him he has the quality in the Premier League and how he recalled the likes of Wayne Rooney and Romelu Lukaku spearheading the attack for the Blues.

Citing how he had gone to La Liga "which is a top league" last season and was "not scared to play here and do the same," nevertheless, Barry is still waiting to break his scoring duck. The 6ft 5in frontman found the net 19 times last season, with eight for Basel before his departure on August 21 and then 11 for Villarreal.

Although the player, who turned 23 on Tuesday, has come a long way in a relatively short space of time, it is also worth bearing in mind that it took him a while to find his feet in Switzerland, getting sent off in both of his first two matches in July and not scoring his first league goal until a 3-1 victory away to Winterhur on January 30.