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Liverpool Echo

Sport

Adam Jones

James Vaughan highlights Lewis Warrington example as he explains new Everton role

James Vaughan Everton Lewis Warrington Kevin lwell Football Tranmere (Organization)

James Vaughan has highlighted Lewis Warrington's development as a prime example of what he wants to achieve in his new Everton role.

Vaughan recently appointed as the club's Loans Pathway Manager in the latest stage of a strategic review which has seen a shake-up of a lot of academy and coaching staff particularly. The 34-year-old, who started his playing career at Everton, was sporting director at Tranmere Rovers before making the move back to Finch Farm.

Vaughan oversaw Warrington's recent loan at Rovers in the second half of last season and will be keeping a close eye now on the young midfielder's progression at Fleetwood Town. And he believes the 19-year-old's progression is a good example for him to look toward in his new role.

Vaughan told evertontv : "Lewis went into Tranmere and took his chance. The credit has to go to him for that. At times, he really dragged the team along. You could see he was ready for first-team football and I’m sure he’ll do the exact same thing this season at Fleetwood.

"For players like Lewis, it’s then a case of making sure we can help transition them from the Football League to hopefully playing in the first team here at Everton one day."

Vaughan called time on his playing career in 2021 and admits that Everton is still the club which is closest to his heart. The former striker had numerous loans away from the Blues during his spell with the club and he believes his experience of that - and knowledge of the lower leagues in this country - will stand him in good stead across the coming weeks and months.

“It feels like I’ve come home," he added. "Tranmere gave me a massive opportunity and the people who worked there were fantastic with me. But Everton is where grew up as a kid and I couldn’t turn down the chance to come back here. It’s the club that’s closest to my heart.

"In my role, I will be monitoring the lads who are out on loan and giving them any support they need. Further from that, it will be concentrating on the next players who need to go out on loan, making sure we get the right loans for them and giving them the best opportunity to be successful.

"The biggest thing is I’ll be able to understand them, because I’ll have felt it. The loans I had were crucial. It’s about knowing what we want from each player individually and trying to plot the best path for them to get into the first team here.

"We need to understand the player and then marry that up with the right club. Hopefully, I can bring my knowledge of the lower leagues and make sure the loans are the right ones for each player.

"We want to build trust with the players, so they trust us with the plan, and we can help guide them. I want to get as many lads as possible playing first-team football for Everton or having a successful career elsewhere."

Vaughan has already had multiple discussions with director of football Kevin Thelwell over the role he will play in the future and what the wider strategy the club is aiming for. And he is hoping to learn a lot about the game from Thelwell.

Vaughan remarked: "The conversations have been really refreshing. There have been a lot of ideas and a lot of thought going into what’s happening here. It’s a really exciting time to join the club.

"Everyone is looking to build something, progress and maintain the traditions of this club in getting academy players into the first team. It’s what this club is about – and hopefully we can see some success from us all being unified and together.

"Kevin [Thelwell] has been brilliant with me. At my age, to work alongside someone him is a massive opportunity. It’s one of the biggest reasons I wanted to come here.

"It [Thelwell’s knowledge and experience] is something I really want to tap into and get as much as I can out of."

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