Everton under-18s assistant coach Kieran Driscoll believes his Academy squad has a 'great opportunity' to develop as players and people during their trip to India.
Everton have sent an under-19s squad to compete at the Premier League’s Next Generation Cup, which takes place at the Reliance Corporate Park in Mumbai. The young Blues will come up against Wolves, West Ham United, and four Indian Super League teams.
Driscoll will be leading the team on the trip and believes the chance to play in India could provide a platform for his side to not only develop as players but also as people, as they’ll have to immerse themselves in an unfamiliar culture.
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"It’s a great opportunity for the boys," he told Everton Live. "It’s come a little bit out of the blue at the end of the season.
"It’s a Premier League event over in India. It’ll be us with Wolves and West Ham, as well as four Indian Super League teams. They’ll be a little bit older as under-21 sides.
"There will also be a team called Stellenbosch from South Africa. It's a trip we’re all excited for.
"We’re there for 12 days, so there will be a lot of things to adapt to and to acclimatise to, but I think if the boys want to move into the professional game, they’ll need to become used to that sort of thing, like longer journeys into different and diverse cultures. This will, no doubt, put them in a good position moving forwards in their careers."
Before he added: "It gives the boys a really good opportunity to visit a different culture and country.
"I don’t think any of our players and staff who are going have been to India before, and they potentially wouldn’t go in the future if it wasn’t for an opportunity like this.
"As an Academy, we want to give the boys as many opportunities and experiences to develop them as people, just as much as players."
Everton have been drawn in group B of the competition and will take on Wolves in their opening fixture on Wednesday afternoon before games against RF Young Champs and Sudeva Delhi.
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