Ronald Koeman believes Morgan Schneiderlin is showing his true quality at Everton.
Schneiderlin has enjoyed a bright start to life with the Blues and delivered a man of the match performance in Saturday’s comfortable 2-0 win over Sunderland.
A £20 million switch saw the France international reunited with his former Southampton boss Koeman following a difficult 18 months at Manchester United.
The Everton manager admits that Schneiderlin’s fledgling Goodison Park career does not come as a surprise to him after being afforded a regular run of games.
“I’m not surprised. I know the player,” said Koeman.
“He needed game time to get that rhythm of the game.
“But he’s such a good player and he showed that, I think, in all the aspects of football in his pressing in his tackles [against Sunderland].
“He was comfortable on the ball but also Gana [Gueye] was back on his level and that’s good, because you need a strong midfield, you need competition from your midfield.
“[James] McCarthy was back, Gareth [Barry] on the bench. We need everybody.”
Schneiderlin emerged as a potential target for Everton during the opening weeks of Koeman’s tenure but did not secure a move until last month’s transfer window.
But the Dutchman admits that he cannot say with any certainty whether an earlier deal would have further boosted his side’s chances of European qualification.
He added: “I don’t know [if it would have helped]. It’s difficult to say.
“It’s really difficult to answer that question because you never know.
“We are happy that we have Schneiderlin in now because it’s a big signing for Everton.”