Everton FC correspondent Joe Thomas with the latest from Finch Farm, where Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti earned crucial minutes as the Under-21s lost to Nottingham Forest
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Armando Broja of Everton during the Premier League 2 match between Everton U21 and Nottingham Forest U21 at Finch Farm on November 29. Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC
Armando Broja of Everton during the Premier League 2 match between Everton U21 and Nottingham Forest U21 at Finch Farm on November 29. Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC
Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti offered glimpses of promise as they each took a big step towards the Everton first team.
Both forwards played a hand in a goal for the Under-21s, the pair taking it in turns to peel off their centre backs and find angles to test George Murray-Jones.
Chermiti’s second half effort was parried into the path of Blues captain Luke Butterfield by the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper, while Broja’s effort was pushed out to the onrushing Charlie Whitaker. The attacking midfielder made no mistake from close range, adding to his growing tally in an impressive start to the campaign for Paul Tait’s side.
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Those goals were scant consolation on a tough afternoon at Finch Farm, however, Everton only rallying after going 4-0 down. The first three of those Forest goals were scored by 19-year-old striker Joe Gardner, who stole the limelight from the more experienced Broja and Chermiti.
It was a second run out in a week for Broja, whose return from an achilles injury began with 45 minutes at Watford on Monday night. The Chelsea loanee played just over 70 on Friday and Sean Dyche’s staff will now assess whether he has made enough progress for what would be a surprise inclusion in the matchday squad as the senior side travels to Manchester United on Sunday.
Broja showed glimmers of quality, breaking down the right of the box and pulling back to Whitaker in the first half, only for his shot to be blocked. He also controlled a dropping ball that foxed Forest defenders to tee up Chermiti for one of two good early chances for the 20-year-old. Chermiti saw the first of those opportunities deflected wide and flashed the second across the face of goal.
It was the forward’s first run out since his impact off the bench at Salford City in what had been a promising start to pre-season, Chermiti scoring twice at Sligo Rovers before winning the free-kick from which James Garner scored in Salford, only for his summer to be destroyed by a nasty foot injury days later. He was withdrawn on the hour, the club later saying his substitution was a planned one.
The pair played up front together and worked hard, Chermiti offering signs of promising hold-up play - holding off defenders to bring down long balls and feed winger Isaac Heath.
It was another step forward for the pair, even as the Under-21s, without a host of key players, laboured on a day when it was Gardner who grabbed the headlines.
Dyche has increasingly started to look to the pair for inspiration as he continues his two year search to find answers to an attack that is struggling for goals and both took a step towards his team on Friday.