Moise Kean’s confidence took a knock on Sunday when he was taken off 18 minutes after coming on as a substitute in Everton’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United.
The 19-year-old hasn’t enjoyed a great start to life on Merseyside, failing to score in 12 Premier League appearances, and his embarrassment at the hands of Everton interim manager Duncan Ferguson was another low moment.
Ferguson insisted that he was just trying to waste some time in the closing minutes of the match but the fact that he failed to make any contact - eye or physical - with Kean suggests there was more to it than that.
A short clip of Kean looking knackered during the match emerged on social media and it certainly wasn’t a good look for the Italian.
He was introduced in the 70th minute of the match and there can be no excuses if he was genuinely suffering.
Carragher analyses Kean sub
The incident was discussed by Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.
The former Liverpool defender analysed Kean’s display and pinpointed the moment he believes Ferguson decided to take him off.
Carragher’s analysis was very insightful and he came to the conclusion that Kean didn’t show a lack of effort but that Ferguson was trying to act in the best interests of the team.
“Duncan Ferguson has brought emotion to the club,” Carragher said. “That is an emotional decision because he's frustrated.
“All he's thinking is I need to get a result for Everton Football Club. Everton are fighting for their lives, to avoid relegation.
“I think when he analyses the game and he looks at it, I think he may think I'll make a different decision going forward."
Carragher recalled the 2003 League Cup final, when Gerard Houllier replaced Milan Baros less than half an hour after bringing him on.
“Milan Baros was crying at the end of the game,” Carragher added.
“A manager's job is to get the best result for his team, it has to be. This is not a selfish decision by Ferguson.”