Revealed: Why Everton's attacking future is in good handsRoberto Martinez says next generation of Blues goal-scorers and chance-creators are in the Academy
Everton's Delial Brewster in action
The stats would seem to back up the manager’s claim.
Roberto Martinez insisted last month that he does not need to devote much time to scouring the Football League for young attacking talent because it’s sitting in Everton’s Academy.
The Blues boss has looked to the lower leagues for homegrown defensive prospects and following the arrivals of Brendan Galloway and Mason Holgate, Matty Foulds will join the club from Bury in January.
But Martinez says the strikers, forwards and playmakers coming through the ranks at Goodison mean that he does not worry about finding the next generation of Everton goal-scorers.
Everton’s first-team have one of the Premier League’s most scintillating attacks and sit fourth in the division for goals scored so far this season with 29 in 16 games.
Had the Blues taken the glut of chances they created in the first-half at Norwich City last weekend then those numbers would look even more impressive.
But with Romelu Lukaku having scored in his last six league matches, Gerard Deulofeu supplying the ammunition and Ross Barkley in the form of his life, Martinez’s side will not be short of goals this season.
And, by the looks of things, neither will the Blues under-21s or u-18s.
Young hot shotsEverton have a clutch of attacking talent in the Academy and the combined goals to games ratio of the u21s and u-18s this season, is among the very best of all Premier League clubs.
Together, the Blues two Academy sides average just over two goals a game this term with David Unsworth’s u-21s scoring 17 times in their 11 league games and the u-18s, currently being coached by John Doolan, notching 39 goals in their 16 league matches.
Chelsea’s sides at those two age groups are averaging closer to three goals a game while Manchester City and Arsenal have a goals to games ratio of better than two.
But Everton’s scoring rate is better than that of Manchester United, Liverpool and Southampton.
So who are the young Blues creating the chances and taking them?
Everton U21's Kieran Dowell
Southport-born Delial Brewster is the u-18s top-scorer with 11 this season and recently told the Everton matchday programme that he wants to finish the season with at least 20.
Welsh youth international Nathan Broadhead has struck seven times while Northern Ireland’s Shayne Lavery, Nathan Holland and Michael Donohue are all highly thought of.
Finland youth international Miko Virtanen, a No10, is hoping to be back in the side before the end of the season after an injury.
Up at u-21 level, Unsworth is overseeing the final stages of development in the careers of players such as Kieran Dowell, Antony Evans and Calum Dyson while Conor McAleny has turned in a number of impressive displays of late.
Evans and Dowell were on target in the recent mini-derby win and Unsworth was full of praise for the two goal-scorers.
Unsworth hails kids“Kieran has missed a three month chunk (due to an ankle injury) just when he was training with the first-team everyday and had done well in pre-season and he gets an injury,” he said.
“It is part of a footballer’s life but it is what you do in that period.
“Kieran has lived in the gym for three months and, quite honestly, it must have come as a terrible time for him but for us looking at the long-term, we think that time in the gym has done him the world of good.
“Some of his play in the derby was fantastic. He still needs games and fitness but if we can get these lads as strong and fit and quick as we can then they will be knocking on the first-team door.”
On Evans, the u-21 coach added: “He’s a boy but you look at him and he plays like a man.
“He’s a terrific footballer who is desperate to be an Everton footballer.
“He is a natural talent, he has pace, great ability, he scores goals, he is a striker-10 where he naturally drops into that No10 position and we’ve certainly got a player on our hands there.
“Maybe the tactical side of the game needs working on but we are very lucky because we have some special talents in our squad.”
Liv Echo
