This is not how Cenk Tosun will have foreseen his 2018/19 term panning out.
At the start of the campaign, the Turkish international was Everton's lead striker - and it's easy to forget how well he was actually playing, despite not finding the back of the net.
Initially, the former Besiktas man's work in the middle of the park looked crucial to bringing the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson , Theo Walcott and especially Richarlison into matches.
But, as new manager Marco Silva tried to develop his style at Goodison Park further, Tosun's lack of goals soon became an issue.
Once it was clear the boss wouldn't be getting balls down the line at every opportunity looking to cross into the middle then the Turkish international's effectiveness started to dwindle.
Dropping back to receive the ball isn't his game, he likes to be in and around the penalty area with a poacher's finish. Those opportunities haven't presented themselves enough over the course of the campaign.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has now stepped up to perform in the wake of Everton's big money January signing - and the youngster is certainly now grabbing that opportunity with both hands.
In all Silva's style seems to suit the 22-year-old better. He's a little more physical, much quicker and much more willing to run the channels and allow players such as Richarlison and Sigurdsson room to maneuver centrally.
The England U21 international has also managed more goals than his teammate this summer with eight goals, compared to Tosun's three in all competitions.
However, on the international stage it's very different for the Turkey man.
The big Mikel Arteta quiz - how much do you remember about the former Everton star?
The Blues striker was on target twice during his country's recent 4-0 win over Moldova in their EURO 2020 qualifier on Monday - producing an emphatic first half strike before also scoring a header from a corner in the second period.
For Turkey, Tosun looks a completely different player. Dangerous, energised and with a system seemingly based around him - he certainly produces his best displays on the international stage.
And those performances just go to show Blues supporters that there is still a quality player there.
The problem is, he's not shown it in an Everton shirt enough - and that's leaving Silva with an interesting conundrum heading into the last few months of the season.
As it stands, the Blues are on the hunt for a new forward, and it's understood that if an offer comes in for Tosun which is deemed acceptable the striker will be on his way.
It will be a shame to see, as he has certainly always put his heart and soul into trying to make his time at Everton a success.
Why Everton want Rafael Leao - and taking inspiration from the new Tottenham Hotspur ground
But should Silva give him one last shot to make it work?
With seven matches to go until the end of the season, and with Everton unfortunately not having a lot to play for, it could be a great chance to experiment with a few different players and systems.
Tosun could be a player to benefit from that. Silva's default system doesn't work for him - but perhaps another could.
Catch up on all the latest Everton transfer news right HERE
As he's shown on the international stage, the goalscoring quality is still there - the question is whether he can find it at a Premier League level or not.
Tosun has a lot to prove between now and the end of the season if he's going to stay at Goodison Park.
But does Silva allow him that chance? Or will the striker's time on Merseyside be cut short?
