Everton striker Salomon Rondon has not got up to speed since joining the club, according to journalist Paul Brown.

The 32-year-old arrived on deadline day back in August on a free transfer, but has failed to find his feet at Goodison Park in the months since.

How has Rondon fared at Everton?

Rondon previously played under Rafael Benitez at Newcastle United, and the Spaniard is clearly a fan of his, having brought him over to Everton this summer.

He has given Rondon a number of opportunities to shine, with the Venezuelan international having started five top-flight games for the Toffees.

However, the 6 foot 1 forward has failed to seize his moment, and is yet to score in eight appearances across all competitions this term.

As per WhoScored, he has only been Everton's 16th-best player, earning an average mark of 6.34.

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What has Brown said about Rondon?

Brown has acknowledged that Rondon has played more than expected due to injuries to Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison, but he has not been impressed by what he has seen from the veteran attacker.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “Having watched him in games, he just doesn’t really look quite up to the pace at the moment. And whether that’s because he came in when he did and hasn’t enjoyed a proper pre-season to get used to the team and get his fitness totally up, I don’t know.

“But he’s playing more than he was supposed to play at the moment because they’ve had injuries to Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison.”

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Can Rondon still be a success at Everton?

Right now, Rondon does not seem to be offering a great deal, and it is telling that he has played just a single minute of Everton's last two matches. 

At 32, he is arguably past his best, and there can be little doubt that he will be considered Everton's third-choice striker when both Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison are fit. Therefore, he may be restricted to limited game time in the coming months, and could struggle to prove himself on Merseyside.

However, it should also be pointed out that Rondon does have 35 Premier League goals to his name, so he has thrived at this level before. 

It may just take one goal for him to gain some confidence, and then could show what he is truly capable of, and demonstrate that he can be a useful option for Benitez either from the start of games or off the bench. 

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