Stanley Mills only burst into Frank Lampard's plans at the beginning of this summer when, before the US tour, the Everton manager was looking for another player to help with first-team training.
Now Mills is on the verge of a breakthrough season after a July he will never forget. It was a remarkable month for the teenager that took him to Baltimore, Minneapolis and Blackpool as he, along with academy starlets Lewis Warrington and Reece Welch, forced his way into Blues boss Lampard's thinking.
And then, just when he could have been forgiven for closing the month out with a rest, Mills instead ended it with a bang - not just claiming a hat-trick but also providing an assist and hitting the woodwork in the under-21 side's demolition of Southport at the weekend. What happens next for Mills remains to be seen but Lampard has stated he is likely to remain on Merseyside as he focuses on what the youngster - and some of his academy team-mates - can offer the first team during a campaign in which squad depth will matter more than ever.
