Everton’s academy is playing a key role in the club’s attempt to survive and consolidate.
Youth products have brought in crucial funds that have been pumped into the wider club over a difficult year. That trend has continued into the summer with the departures of both Ellis Simms and Ishe Samuels-Smith in multi-million pound deals. They follow the exits of Anthony Gordon and the likes of Nathan Broadhead, Sebastian Quirk and Joe Anderson in January.
What lies in store for the remaining starlets is yet to be seen. With a threadbare squad that needs depth, several players could become useful assets for first-team manager Sean Dyche to call upon. But with the pressure to get results likely to be intense for a third consecutive season, there is a danger that such opportunities may not arrive.
With pre-season underway here are five of the young prospects likely to be in the headlines over the coming season as they look to continue their development either on Merseyside or elsewhere.
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Jarrad Branthwaite
He may not have developed within the academy but the youngster with the best chance of first-team football is Jarrad Branthwaite. He has extensive senior experience after a successful loan spell at PSV Eindhoven last season. His impressive second half of the season in the Netherlands has led to clubs taking an interest in his progress and he was one of few loan players Dyche sought to get in touch with upon his appointment. The 21-year-old has come a long way from the centre-back who was sent off against Brentford late in the season before last after a clumsy foul on Ivan Toney and will return to Finch Farm fresh from success with England’s under-21s. With Conor Coady and Yerry Mina having departed and the club willing to listen to loan offers for Mason Holgate, Branthwaite is expected to get an opportunity to impress Dyche this pre-season.
Tom Cannon
There is significant excitement around the progress of Tom Cannon after he rounded off an impressive start to last season at academy level by proving he could cause trouble to Championship defenders. Eight goals for Preston North End has that club, and others, monitoring his availability this summer, but the departure of Simms to Coventry City combined with what appears to be a limited budget could lead to Dyche having Cannon around the first-team squad. Everton desperately need options upfront and the 20-year-old is a clinical finisher ready for senior football. The only question for Dyche is whether his development would be better served as an integral part of a Championship side or on the fringe of the Blues' squad.
Lewis Warrington
Lewis Warrington has worked tirelessly through the close season to give himself the best opportunity to impress Dyche. The 20-year-old shone during pre-season last year and was one of the first players to arrive at Finch Farm on the opening day of pre-season. A successful loan spell at Fleetwood Town under Celtic midfield legend Scott Brown has given him a real taste of senior football. While there is a significant leap from League One to the Premier League, Warrington has impressed at each stage of his development so far and supporters would be keen to see him kept on Merseyside to help bolster a midfield that has just lost Tom Davies.
Stanley Mills
Stanley Mills shot to prominence last summer after catching Frank Lampard’s eye. He received a surprise call-up to the first team’s US pre-season tour and after impressing with the U21s over the following months then went to Australia with the side during the World Cup break. Mills made his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup between performances for the U21s that saw him named the team's player of the season. Amid an injury crisis toward the end of the last campaign, his name was on the lips of many fans who believed he could provide an option down the right-hand side of the team. Mills’ best opportunity for first-team football will be on loan this season if the right club can be found to support his progress. He will be keenly followed from afar should he make such a move.
Joao Virginia
Joao Virginia is set for a crucial few weeks in his career. The departure of Asmir Begovic has left a gap in Everton's senior goalkeeping unit and, of those who could make the step up internally, he is best placed. The 23-year-old has played three times for the first team and experienced senior football in the Netherlands and Portugal across recent loans. He has just been handed an extension to his contract and Dyche is expected to contemplate his progress as he considers his options heading into the new season. There is a role going to become Jordan Pickford's understudy and director of football Kevin Thelwell said of Virginia this week: "Joao is a talented young goalkeeper who holds a lot of promise."
