Everton Fan Q & A: Why don’t the younger players feature for the first team?
Every week we’ll be asking Everton fans on our Twitter account for questions that will be answered by Goodison News correspondent Jack Cunningham. You can join in by following the Goodison News Twitter account and watching out for weekly mailbag posts.
Everton had a very strong start to the season, but they have now lost two games at Goodison Park in a row, and some fans aren’t happy.
The Toffees totally collapsed against Watford, and you do have to question the senior players, who appeared to lose all composure as the Hornets ran riot.
The likes of Salomon Rondon, Tom Davies, and Michael Keane struggled, and younger players are waiting in the reserves, ready to come in and take their places.
With that in mind, we asked for your burning questions about all things Everton-related for Goodison News correspondent Jack Cunningham to answer, and one Toffees fan wanted to know why some of the younger players aren’t featuring.
Thanks for the question, Stephen, and it is certainly something that is worth looking at.
The Toffees have a number of talented and highly regarded youngsters waiting for their chance to shine.
Lewis Dobbin, Ellis Simms, Tyler Onyango, and Jarrad Branthwaite, to name just a few of those who you would think could have a first-team future.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin injured, Rafael Benitez has persisted with Rondon, but he is struggling and hasn’t scored yet.
Now, given that Calvert-Lewin is going to be out for a bit longer, you would think that the 32-year-old might only get a few games to impress and try and score [Everton website].
If he can’t, then Dobbin or Simms should be given a chance to shine.
Simms impressed for Blackpool on loan last season, so I would like to see him given a shot.
In the centre of midfield, the Toffees have been hit by an injury to Abdoulaye Doucoure, and though Davies scored on Saturday, I thought he was really poor and offered little defensively as the Toffees were cut apart.
Therefore, could we see Onyango?
The Athletic report that he could be set to be added to Benitez’s squad for the Wolverhampton Wanderers match, and I would be excited to see him.
Then in defence, Benitez has Branthwaite waiting for his opportunity.
Keane was horrendous last week, despite providing an assist, and it could be time for him to come out of the team for Branthwaite if Yerry Mina isn’t fit.
So, I believe that though we haven’t seen enough of these young players, it won’t be too long until Benitez is left with no choice and has to play them.
In other Everton news, Fabrizio Romano has provided an injury update on Doucoure.
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