Charlie Whitaker surely close to Everton breakthrough after award nomination
The Everton midfield is very settled right now under Frank Lampard but there is an Under-21 sensation pushing to break the mould.
Charlie Whitaker has been a leading light of Paul Tait’s side this season with four goals and three assists in competitive competitions this season and has been particularly exceptional throughout October.
As a result, he has been nominated for the Premier League 2 player of the month having helped the Toffees youth side to victories against Crystal Palace and Manchester City.
He also starred as the Under-21s went to Hartlepool United and thumped their senior side 6-0 in the Papa John’s Trophy to qualify for the knockout rounds as group winners against Morecambe and Harrogate Town.
Lampard will be well aware of the 19-year-old’s fantastic form at Finch Farm and watching his progress very closely on a day-to-day basis and he could soon be tempted to give him a chance in the senior setup.
The problem he faces is that Idrissa Gana Gueye, Amadou Onana and Alex Iwobi are very settled in the middle of the park and it would take something drastic for them to be swapped out for an extended period of time.
But if Iwobi, in particular, gets an injury or suspension then someone like Whitaker, who is very attack-minded from the centre of the park, would be the perfect player to deputise in his role.
Having Lampard as his manager would do wonders for his confidence as he would actively encourage the teenager to express himself and try inventive things when he sees the chance to do so.
That creative spark is all that is lacking from making the midfield contingent one of the very best in the Premier League and it could be one of the homegrown Everton starlets who completes the jigsaw.