Lewis Warrington has spoken of his delight at being able to join Fleetwood Town on loan and explained how being able to work with Scott Brown was a big factor behind his decsion to move to the League One club.
The 19-year-old Everton Academy graduate made the move to Town on deadline day after making encouraging progress with the Blues in recent months. After catching the eye on loan at Tranmere Rovers last term, Warrington returned to Finch Farm in the summer and penned a new two-year contract with the Blues until the end of June 2024.
However, he will now spend the season on loan at Highbury, and reacting to his move, Warrington explained how conversations with Cods boss Brown were a big factor in him deciding to make the move to the Lancashire-based club.
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He said: “I’m delighted to get it over the line; it’s a good step in my career as I was on loan in League Two last season so going up a league is a step in the right direction – I’m excited and happy to be here.
“It’s a good feeling, going out on loan again, I just want to play as many games as I can and get experience, I’m only 19 years of age so, as much as I can play, the better for me. To go up a level can only benefit me for my career going forward so I’m happy.
“I want to bring my qualities to the team and will give everything every time out there in training and in games so I’m excited to see what will come.”
“He was a big influence in me coming here on loan, just look at the career he had as a footballer," Warrington then continued when asked about Brown.
“He was a central midfielder and the way he played is quite similar to the way I play as we like to tackle and wind people up and it will be good to learn from him.
“I have had two chats with the gaffer and it was really positive and he’s got this football club going in the right direction.
“The club want to play football, get the ball on the floor and that’s how I want to play football and with the club’s ambitions, they’re all reasons why I wanted to come here.”
Warrington, ironically, made his first-team debut after 15 years of progressing through the youth ranks at Everton against the Cods in a Carabao Cup tie last month. He also impressed Blues boss Frank Lampard during pre-season, featuring in the club's US tour matches and friendlies against Blackpool and Dynamo Kyiv.
“It was a good night; I’ve been working at Everton for 15 years now and it was a big night for me and my family,” the youngster reflected was asked about his first-team debut.
“It was good to get on and play well when I did so it was good – to make it here was a bit of a coincidence wasn’t it?
“I’ve loved my time at Everton, I’m a massive blue, and have supported them my whole life so I couldn’t have wished to have been at a better club. I love being there, and I hope to do the same here – I love meeting new people so it’s good to get out of the building after a long time, but I do love it at Everton.”
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