Everton duo Stan Mills and Tom Cannon make case for first-team games
While the Everton senior team had the night off on Tuesday (18 October) the Under-21s were putting on a show in the Papa John’s Trophy.
The young Toffees secured their passage through to the knockout rounds of the competition by beating Hartlepool United’s senior team by a whopping 6-0 scoreline in the North East.
Mackenzie Hunt and Charlie Whitaker both scored on the night but it was two other youthful sensations who stole the show with a brace apiece at the Suit Direct Stadium.
Leading scorer Tom Cannon and influential winger Stan Mills were the duo to steal the headlines on the night as Paul Tait’s side produce the result of the evening in the competition.
Cannon has been banging in the goals for the Under-21s and Under-18s over the past 18 months and has been pushing very hard for a chance in the first team that might have to come if he keeps producing numbers like he is.
Ellis Simms and Lewis Dobbin have both previously been ahead of him in the pecking order in the academy but they have both now left on loan to Sunderland and Derby County respectively to open the door very wide for him to take advantage.
Mills doesn’t have the same prolific touch as the natural number nine, understandably, but his influence on every game is obvious from a wide area and he can even do a job at right-back if required for whatever reason.
Frank Lampard would love to give them both, and many others aside, the chance to strut their stuff in the senior team at Goodison Park but with every point vital at the start of the season, there might not be many chances to do that.
The boss could rotate his Everton side for the Carabao Cup tie away at Bournemouth on 8 November which could see them given a chance but they will have to try and get themselves on the plane to the Sydney Super Cup in order to impress