Tom Cannon insists he’s ready to push for a place in Sean Dyche’s Everton team and can’t wait to experience the “buzz” of scoring at Goodison Park.
Aintree-born Cannon made his first three senior appearances for the Blues this season, coming off the bench in their back-to-back matches at Bournemouth before the World Cup break and then for the first fixture back at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day. He was then loaned out to Preston North End for the second half of the campaign, netting eight goals in 21 games for the Championship club under the guidance of fellow Scouser Ryan Lowe, a former striker himself.
Everton are understood to be prioritising new attacking options – along with the full-back area – in their transfer plans for this summer. However, with Financial Fair Play restrictions still biting and funds tight, Cannon is hoping to potentially save the Blues some money by working his way into the new manager’s plans.
He told evertontv: “I want to come back for pre-season, impress the manager and hopefully show him what I can do, and then get myself in the squad.
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“Scoring goals with the Under-21s is different from Men’s football.
“Now I’ve gone out to the Championship and scored, hopefully the manager has seen that.
“It’s my aim to score in front of the crowd at Goodison. There’s nothing more that I want to do.
“I’ve gone out on loan and scored at Deepdale. But I know it would be a different buzz scoring at Goodison Park in front of 40,000.
“I’m looking forward to that and I will try as hard as I can do that.”
Cannon, who doesn’t turn 21 until December 28, has been with Everton since the age of 10 but admits that his recent spell outside the top flight has helped toughen him up to the rigours of senior football. However, James Vaughan, the club’s Loans Pathways Manager – who remains the Blues’ youngest ever goalscorer, was always keeping a close eye on his progress.
He said: “From Under-21s football to men’s football is obviously a big difference. There are different styles, different formations, and even the way the senior players play, too.
“Defenders are on your back, they are trying to chat with you as the game is going on, so you aren’t making any runs in-behind. But it’s all a great experience and it went well.
“He [Vaughan] kept in touch with me very frequently. He’d either phone me or text me after near enough every game.
“He came to the games as well and would text when he was there. I get on very well with Vaughany.
“He’s good, he helps you with any little things you need some assistance with. You can just text him or phone him and it’s no issue. I had a few meetings with him before I left to go to Preston and they were all good.”
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