Enes Unal’s Recent Form Prompts Discussion on Starting Role Challenge to Evanilson

Bournemouth secured a European position following their home draw with West Ham on Monday, marked by another late goal. This particular goal was a spectacular strike from substitute Enes Unal, who has now scored in two consecutive appearances off the bench. His recent performances have initiated a discussion regarding the Cherries’ Turkish forward and his potential to transition from an impact substitute to a regular starter. Despite being signed from Getafe with a commendable goal-scoring record, which generated high expectations, Unal has predominantly occupied a place on Bournemouth’s bench. A summer injury prevented Unal from joining the Turkey squad for the Euros and subsequently from participating in any pre-season training. Consequently, he is understandably lagging in terms of match sharpness and overall physical condition. Following Dom Solanke’s departure, Bournemouth opted to make a significant investment in a striker, acquiring Evanilson from Porto. The Brazilian has proven to be an impressive addition, seemingly solidifying his position over Unal. However, with Unal increasingly influencing games recently, he may now be in a position to contend for that primary striker spot. The Cherries are currently in excellent form, ranking among the top five in the Premier League for expected goals (xG). Yet, a notable weakness is their position in the bottom five for shot conversion. Unal’s contributions could potentially offer a solution to this issue of converting chances into goals. Whether Unal possesses the capacity to challenge Evanilson and become a consistent starter for the club remains to be seen. Nevertheless, one certainty is his role in taking free-kicks for the foreseeable future.