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4 days ago
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Four Everton youngsters set for defining summer as club weighs up next options
Everton's academy players were given an opportunity to show their potential when they joined up with the senior team for the first pre-season friendly against Accrington Stanley. Harrison Armstrong and Harry Tyrer, two players pushing to be part of David Moyes's squad for the first season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, received the heaviest workload. But there were also chances for the likes of Will Tamen, Isaac Heath, Jenson Metcalfe and Justin Clarke at the Wham Stadium. With a busy summer still set to burst into life in the transfer market, the ECHO takes a look at the academy players set for an intriguing few months that will define the next stage of their development. READ MORE: Move to Hill Dickinson Stadium tipped to be a fresh start for 'top-six' Everton READ MORE: Leeds United hit with shock suspension news for Everton Premier League opener An experienced head on young shoulders At 23, Harry Tyrer is perhaps too old to be called a youngster. He is also too experienced, having spent two seasons on loan - first at Chesterfield then at Blackpool. But having been at the club since he was seven, this summer represents the chance to make an impression with Everton, the opportunity he will have been waiting years for. Tyrer was the most senior keeper in the club's ranks for the first week of pre-season and played the full game at Accrington as a result, with Jordan Pickford only returning to Finch Farm the day before the game. He looked composed for most of the fixture, making some useful saves and looking comfortable with the ball at his feet - not easy in the torrential downpours that fell before and during the match. Stanley's goal was messy, but it did stem from Benn Ward being unmarked at the back post from a corner. Tyrer was always going to slip down the pecking order with a back-up goalkeeper to Pickford, one with top-flight experience, an essential target this summer after the departures of Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia. The arrival of Mark Travers to fill that spot was confirmed on the morning of the first summer friendly. But there is still room for a third choice keeper within the squad and the coming weeks will showcase whether that will be Tyrer. Giving him that responsibility would save the need to bring in additional face while also raising his profile and confidence - though several Football League clubs are reportedly tracking his availability and could yet test Everton's resolve. Harrison Armstrong - where is development best served? The most promising starlet at the club, Harrison Armstrong already has Premier League minutes and is battle-hardened by a stint helping to save Derby County from Championship relegation. Everton's best performer at the Wham Stadium, the 18-year-old burst onto the scene 12 months ago when Sean Dyche plucked him from the Under-18s to help fill out his injury-hit pre-season squad and the midfielder has not looked back. The question is not whether he will get his chance at Everton just whether it will come this season. In a threadbare square with gaping holes in several positions, the England youth international offers talent in an area that needs depth and would likely get chances this season. The decision to weigh-up, given Moyes would still need reinforcements in the middle, is if he may benefit more from being a starting player in the top half of the Championship than being a squad player on Merseyside. Isaac Heath open to loan but cameo was impressive Isaac Heath helped to set the game alight on Tuesday when he arrived in the second half with fellow academy winger Justin Clarke. The 20-year-old has prospered on the right in Paul Tait's U21s - forming a good partnership with defender Roman Dixon - but entered the fray on the opposite flank. From there he showed little fear and charged at defenders, eventually forcing one to bring him down for the penalty from which Beto levelled. Heath earned U21s player of the year last season and is looking to go on loan this season if there is no pathway to the first team. His route may well be blocked by September, with Everton having several options on the left and the right wing being considered a priority for at least one signing, potentially two. Until new faces come in Heath will continue to get chances to make a positive impression though - right now he is essentially the most senior specialist right-wing option at the club. What next for talented forward after loan spell Francis Okoronkwo has long been considered as one of the more exciting prospects emerging at Finch Farm. The forward signed from Sunderland later in his development but has an eye for goal and had good moments in his first senior loan spell last season, scoring three times in League Two with Salford City. The 20-year-old will likely have to go on loan again if he is looking for first-team football but where he ends up will be a strong indication of how his progression to date is being viewed.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Everton fans brave 'biblical rain' in draw at Accrington
It might have been a first pre-season game for Everton at Accrington Stanley, but the torrential rain made it feel more like a cup game on a Tuesday night in have been put through the mill over the past few seasons with PSR charges, points deductions, top players being sold off, takeover failures and a revolving door for the total attendance was 3,872 with 2,336 Everton fans braving the almost biblical rain in an uncovered stand, wearing plastic ponchos that made them more look like they were at a damp Alton Towers than a football if this preparation leads to bringing home silverware for the first time in 30 years and having something to celebrate after navigating the recent storms, they will not care what the weather forecast is for the victory Toffees were without the likes of Jordan Pickford, Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye, who have only just returned to Finch Farm training ground following international duty. New signings Thierno Barry and Mark Travers were also a result, this felt more of a chance for manager David Moyes to see his fringe players in action. Michael Keane, Nathan Patterson, Tim Iroegbunam and Dwight McNeil all got 90 minutes against the League Two Chermiti also got the nod over fellow striker Beto and the 21-year-old did a decent job of showing what he could do when he had two great chances just saved by Accrington's goalkeeper in the first was though substitute Beto's penalty that ensured the spoils were shared in a 1-1 an Everton fan? Find and follow your team hereBut this was a matchday squad filled with academy players and under-21s - 10 of them in fact. While I anticipate some will be used to pad out the squad for the Premier League Series which starts next week, I cannot imagine this will be how Everton look come the new knows he needs players through the door if the club are going to challenge for the European places and stay well away from another relegation is however, plenty of excitement over one particular youngster. Harrison Armstrong went out on loan to Derby County in January and impressed in the Championship. Moyes is also a fan of the 18-year-old Scouser, who was given the number-10 role at Accrington. There is a lot of hope he will prove to be the next superstar at Everton, after Jarrad Branthwaite became the to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio MerseysideExplore Everton content on BBC Sounds
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
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🚨 Everton held to draw at Accrington Stanley in first pre-season game
🚨 Everton held to draw at Accrington Stanley in first pre-season game Everton stumbled to a 1-1 draw with a determined Accrington Stanley side in their opening pre-season game at the Wham Stadium. Scorers: Ward 50'; Beto (pen) 79' While the Toffees unsurprisingly had the better of the first half, they found Stanley goalkeeper Ollie Wright in inspired form. It was the 22-year-old's second game for the club following the confirmation of his season-long loan from Southampton. Advertisement Five minutes after the break, the hosts took a shock lead through Benn Ward who headed home past Harry Tyrer. David Moyes rang the changes throughout the game, and it was two substitutes who combined to draw them level. Young winger Isaac Heath drove down the left, and was taken down inside the box for a penalty. Beto stepped up to slot home in confident fashion to earn a draw for Everton. The Premier League side are next in action on Saturday when they make the short trip to Ewood Park to take on Blackburn Rovers. 📸 Matt McNulty - 2025 Getty Images
Yahoo
11-07-2025
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Everton new squad number hint spotted as teenage starlets join pre-season training
David Moyes has taken his Everton squad up to Scotland for a pre-season training camp. It is the second getaway he has taken the players on since his return to the club in January, the squad having travelled out to the UAE for a much needed warm weather escape at the end of February. It comes with most of the first team having checked in for testing on what was the first day back at Finch Farm on Friday. Advertisement With the start of the summer games schedule just a week away - the Blues travel to League Two side Accrington Stanley next Tuesday - here are a few points of note, so far, from the trip up north. READ MORE: Everton and Roma managers confirmed for legends game as iconic figure set to feature READ MORE: What David Moyes did to inspire one Everton player as Hill Dickinson Stadium admission made The size of the first team group It will come as no surprise to anyone that the Blues have needed to take some of the leading lights from the academy to help fill out the squad. As it stands, Moyes does not have enough senior players to make up a 20-man Premier League matchday squad without dipping into the academy - even if you include Harry Tyrer and starlet Harrison Armstrong. Advertisement With some of those involved in international duty at the end of the campaign having been given a later return date, the group is not at full size. But if you want an idea of how much work is still required this summer, the list of players at the camp will give you an idea. The fresh-faced goalkeepers union There are several notable youngsters on the trip, including centre back Reece Welch, who was in the matchday squad when Everton defeated Newcastle United up in the North East on the final day of last season. It is the goalkeepers who stand out, however. Tyrer is there, the 23-year-old currently set to start pre-season as Jordan Pickford's back-up. His promotion, for now at least, follows two good loan spells in the football pyramid. He helped Chesterfield win promotion from the National League before cementing himself as first choice at League One side Blackpool last term. Advertisement With Billy Crellin and Zan-Luk Leban having left the club this summer - as well as first team deputies Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia - there are some even younger faces alongside Tyrer. George Pickford put in some impressive performances as he donned the gloves for Everton Under-21s for most of last season. He is out there with England youth international Douglass Lukjanciks. The 17-year-old is highly-rated and will earn some useful experience on the senior camp. Seamus Coleman leading the players on a light run There is a nice photo among the gallery of club images that shows club captain Seamus Coleman and assistant manager Leighton Baines leading a group of players on a run along the beach. Advertisement Aside from it bringing back memories of the pair operating together on opposite sides of the defence, it also suggest Coleman is over the injury that ended his farewell to Goodison Park after just 20 minutes of the final home game against Southampton in May. A new squad number? When Vitalii Mykolenko wheeled away in celebration after drawing Everton level at Fulham in May, he did so in his number 19 shirt. On training images released by the club from the summer excursion, the left-back is wearing kit that is adorned with the number 16. The pictures suggest he has adopted the number he wears on international duty now that Abdoulaye Doucoure has left the shirt vacant. Interestingly, other players appear to be wearing the numbers they played in last season - suggesting that, so far, Michael Keane has retained the number 5 and that Beto has not taken up the number 9. Advertisement A chance to impress for some players with big summers ahead Harrison Armstrong, Youssef Chermiti and Nathan Patterson are all part of the work in Scotland at the start of a big summer for each of the players. Armstrong is viewed as a major talent but, at just 18, it remains to be seen whether Moyes will keep him around the first team or send him out for another loan after his initial success with Derby County in the second half of last season. Chermiti spent much of last season injured, a tough break after he started the summer of last year so well. It means, two years into his Everton career, he is still yet to have received much exposure to the first team. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin having left there is an opportunity over the coming weeks for him to push himself into Moyes' thinking, even if Everton's move for Thierno Barry comes off. Otherwise, it may be decided a loan is best for the young forward. Patterson finds himself in a similar position. Injury has curtailed his chances at Everton to date and Moyes' selection decisions last season suggested the Scotland international was on the back foot in the fight to win the right back spot. Everton are looking for a first choice in that position but a move for Fulham's Kenny Tete fell through, potentially giving Patterson a window of opportunity to impress Moyes.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Accrington sign Southampton goalkeeper Wright
Accrington Stanley have signed goalkeeper Ollie Wright on a season-long loan from Championship side 22-year-old had spells on loan in the National League with Yeovil Town and Solihull Moors last season, making a cumulative 39 appearances and keeping nine clean sheets in the process."I have had a few loans in the National League South and National League last season, so this season I feel ready to play in the EFL and showcase my skills to everyone," he told the club website."I met all the lads on Monday morning and they were all really welcoming, I am sure it's healthy competition for all the goalkeepers and we can all work hard together."
