Gareth Barry praises Everton strike pair

Everton Romelu Lukaku and Arouna Kone

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Everton midfielder Gareth Barry believes his side have a strikeforce that can trouble anyone with Romelu Lukaku and Arouna Kone leading the line.

Lukaku is Everton’s top scorer with eight goals in all competitions this season, six of which have come in the Premier League.

Kone took his tally to five for the campaign with his hat-trick in the 6-2 win over Sunderland, with all of the Ivorian’s efforts coming in the league so far.

Barry has now moved to heap praise on the duo and he believes Kone is starting to prove any remaining doubters wrong after his return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

“Arouna has had a couple of tough years with injury and people questioning the transfer, but we have seen glimpses in training when he has been fit that when he gets a run of games he will be able to do what he has done and him and Romelu have struck up a good partnership and are causing problems,” said the 34-year-old.”

Everton are 11.00 to finish in the top four this season and Barry feels they will be a handful for any defence with both Lukaku and Kone as options for boss Roberto Martinez.

He added: “It is not too often you see two strikers playing together but I am sure the manager has tried to get Arouna in the team with Rom because they are both goalscoring threats.”

Everton travel to West Ham on Saturday and Kone is 3.00 to score at any time, while Lukaku is 6.50 to score the first goal of the game.

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