Having appointed Rafa Benitez as their new manager, it is fair to say that the chances of youth team promotions have probably taken a hit. Not exactly famed for his youth development - certainly not at Liverpool anyway - Benitez tends to rely on the older and more experienced squad members.
Everton however do have some promising youth talents - sixteen year old Thierry Small is considered one of the top prospects in the country and has been linked with moves to all the top clubs in Europe (and Arsenal). Seventeen year old forward Charlie Whitaker was also taken on the club’s pre-season tour to supplement the squad.
A club that traditionally excels in youth leagues, a fifth place finish in both the U23 and U18s was probably not considered good enough. With, so far, no players leaving on loan they will have a full accomplishment of reserves to try and dominate this level.
| U23 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Pos | |
| GK | Harry Tyrer |
| CB | Joseph Anderson |
| CB | Ryan Astley |
| RB | Kyle John |
| LB | Thierry Small |
| CM | Tyler Onyango |
| CM | Einar Iversen |
| CM | Rhys Hughes |
| RW | Sebastian Quirk |
| LW | Charlie Whitaker |
| CF | Ellis Simms |
| U18 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Pos | |
| GK | Jak Stewart |
| CB | Reece Welch |
| CB | Jack Tierney |
| RB | Mathew Mallon |
| LB | Elijah Campbell |
| CM | Luke Butterfield |
| CM | Isaac Price |
| CM | Imam Jagne |
| RW | Stanley Mills |
| LW | Owen Barker |
| CF | Katia Kouyate |
Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022
Niels Nkounkou
- Position: LB
- Age: 20
- Nationality: French
Signed from Marseille in 2020, Niels Nkounkou is a French Olympic team international who began making his breakthrough to the Everton first team at the back end of last season. He has a stout, muscular frame that allows him to physically dominate most wingers in a one-on-one match up. Although he isn’t the quickest he still covers ground effectively and is an excellent crosser - usually driving to the byline and standing the ball up to the far post - which may benefit Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin. What makes Nkounkou slightly different as a prospect is not his good wing play - many fullback prospects have that - but actually he is fairly conservative, preferring to pick and choose his moments to attack and playing solid defensively. With Lucas Digne still working his way back to fitness, Nkounkou may get the opportunity to start the season in the first team.
Anthony Gordon
- Position: LW
- Age: 20
- Nationality: English
Scouser Anthony Gordon may already be a familiar name. In fourteen Premier League appearances the winger has already managed a start in the Merseyside derby, not letting himself down during a 0-0 draw at Goodison. Last season he spent half a season on loan at Preston, making a further eleven appearances. Gordon, an England U20 international, is not a flying winger. He doesn’t possess outstanding pace but - similar to Riyad Mahrez - he has more than enough to make playing in a wide role viable. He has good close control and the vision to pick out passes into the forward line. Despite being just twenty, this feels like a big year for Gordon is defining whether or not he is a Premier League prospect. With the underperforming Alex Iwobi his main competition, Gordon has to push on.
Jarrad Branthwaite
- Position: CB
- Age: 19
- Nationality: English
Signed from Carlisle in January 2020, Branthwaite is an English U19 international and spent the second half of last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, making ten appearances. He broke through into the Everton first team, at centre-back, aged just seventeen and his outstanding ability has seen him linked with a move to Manchester United (and less realistically, Liverpool). Standing at six foot four inches tall, he is surprisingly adept with the ball at his feet, often stepping into midfield and using his long stride to glide away from would-be tacklers. Defensively however that lack of pace does show, as you would expect. For Carlisle, aged just sixteen, he ran from the heart of defence past several midfielders and fired a left footed shot into the bottom corner. Branthwaite is an excellent prospect, one who could go on to be a full England international in future.