Done deal: Everton U23s hotshot Ellis Simms joins Blackpool on loan
Blackpool have signed young striker Ellis Simms on loan from Everton for the rest of the season, the League One club has confirmed.
On Wednesday, the Seasiders announced via their official Twitter account and official website that Simms, 20, has arrived at Bloomfield Road on a temporary basis and is eligible to play for them in the FA Cup against Brighton this weekend.
Simms has not made a senior appearance in his career but has been in prolific form for Everton’s Under-23s this season, scoring eight goals in 12 Premier League 2 matches.
Perfect chance for Simms to develop
Everton’s Under-23s have had a mixed bag of results this season but there has been one constant in their Premier League 2 campaign and that is Simms hitting the back of the net.
Earlier this season, Under-23s assistant boss John Ebbrell hailed Simms for his ability to beat goalkeepers. He was quoted by Everton’s official site in September as saying: “Ellis is outstanding in one on ones, a really good finisher.”
Blackpool could do with someone as clinical in the box as the Oldham-born striker.
According to stats by Wyscout, only one team has scored fewer goals in League One than Blackpool this season [21] but the Seasiders’ xG is 12th-best at [28.86].
Neil Critchley’s side are not scoring anywhere near as many goals as they are expected to and surely they’re pinning their hopes on Simms to cure their lack of cutting edge.
It will benefit Everton a lot if Simms not only plays a lot but also scores a lot in the third-tier while on loan at Bloomfield Road.
The Blues’ Under-23s boss David Unsworth told the Liverpool Echo last year that plenty of work is being put into Simms so that he’s good enough for first-team football while Echo journalist Mark Wakefield also said that he’s been impressing in training.
Let’s wait and see as to how Simms does at Blackpool because he has a big task there as Critchley aims to address the League One side’s lack of goals.
In other Everton news, Kevin Campbell has shared his views on the Toffees’ recent postponement.