‘Unbelievable’ – Unsworth heaps praise on ‘fantastic’ Everton starlet after difficult spell
David Unsworth has heaped praise on Everton youngster Joao Virginia despite a difficult first half of the season away on loan at Reading.
The under-23s coach admitted that the goalkeeper’s attitude has been fantastic since he returned to the club, and revealed that first-team goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly has been heavily impressed.
Virginia only managed to make a single appearance at the Madejski Stadium during his loan spell, in the Carabao Cup and it was no surprise to see him return to Merseyside.
Unsworth has insisted that young players need to have consistent football to improve to help them in their development.
“Unbelievable. Fantastic. I’ve spoken to [first-team goalkeeping coach] Alan Kelly, who’s a big fan of his, and so am I,” he told the ECHO.
“It just shows you. Young players have got to play football no matter where they are on loan or what stage of development they’re at, they have to play.”
Virginia may have returned to the club and impressed, but it is definitely within his best interests to secure another loan move to earn consistent minutes.
The 20-year-old has little-to-zero chance of starting any games this season, with Jordan Pickford having secured his place in the starting 11 in the Premier League and the domestic competitions.
It appears as though he has picked up some big fans at the club in the past couple of months, and with some experience elsewhere he could certainly have a big future.
In other Everton news, Journalist: Everton and selling club £5m apart on advanced midfielder talks