Jeff Stelling questions why Everton let Tom Cannon join Preston on loan after brace v QPR
Jeff Stelling has questioned why Everton allowed Tom Cannon to join Preston on loan in January after he scored twice against QPR on Friday (7 April).
The academy starlet was allowed to leave Goodison Park on loan for the rest of the season despite the team being desperate for goals in the first-team, and he has scored six times 15 appearances in all competitions.
With Ellis Simms getting an opportunity under Sean Dyche and the team still battling against relegation, Stelling was live on Sky Sports [7 April, 17:22] when he praised the 20-year-old for his “absolutely fantastic” form and questioned why he was allowed to leave.
“It was Tom Cannon who got the goals, who’s on loan from Everton,” he said.
“I imagine there are a few Evertonians thinking, ’why is he on loan at Preston?’. Because he’s having an absolutely fantastic run in terms of goals scored at the moment.
“He’s now got 5 in 5 and here he is finishing with real style. So controlled, so comfortable.”
Quality
Cannon has proven himself to be a quality young striker, but there are absolutely no guarantees that he would have been able to deliver in the Premier League.
Everton needed and still need a reliable goalscorer at the highest level and while Simms has done well, no fans believe he is the answer to our issues right now.
He may become that player, as may Cannon, but the academy man is benefitting from regular game time elsewhere in the Championship and that will only aid his development.
Cannon is capable of a variety of finishes with either foot and even with his head, and if he continues to develop in this manner for the rest of the season then there is every chance he could be involved with the first-team at Goodison Park next season.
But the decision to loan him out was the right one and we’re all seeing the rewards for that, so hopefully Cannon can blossom into the striker we need going forward.