Stanley Mills was at home with his parents when his phone buzzed with a message he was not expecting.
It was midway through the summer, pre-season was gathering momentum and he was preparing for the trip to York he had been told he would be going on - a joint training camp with Everton’s Under-18s and Under-21s. Then a WhatsApp message from the club came through that changed everything. Frank Lampard wanted to take him to the USA.
Less than six months later the teenager would be putting his hand up to take a penalty in a shootout against Celtic during his second overseas tour with the senior squad. He would have made his first team debut, signed a new contract and have been involved in a Premier League matchday squad.
