Everton talent Francis Okoronkwo is finally off the mark with loan club Lincoln City after scoring against Barnsley.
Everton have loaned out a number of young talents for first-team exposure this season.
Highly-rated midfielder Harrison Armstrong has been outstanding for Preston North End and looks right at home in the Championship at just 18.
Martin Sherif is earning praise at Rotherham United, while Tyler Onyango is helping Stockport County’s promotion push.
Francis Okoronkwo hasn’t quite enjoyed the same success after signing for Lincoln City, but he may have turned a corner.
Salford City v Everton - Pre-Season Friendly
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Lincoln City boss on Everton’s Francis Okoronkwo
Everton snapped up Okoronkwo from Sunderland in 2021, paying £1million for the forward.
The 21-year-old has yet to make his first-team debut for Everton but has been a regular at Under-21 level.
After a spell with Salford City last season, Okoronkwo joined League One side Lincoln for the 2025-26 season.
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League One action has been difficult to come by, with Okoronkwo starting just one league game so far.
Okoronkwo found the net in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night, though, helping Lincoln beat Barnsley 2-0.
Okoronkwo had blazed one effort over the bar before firing into the net to put Lincoln 1-0 up on the road.
Imps boss Michael Skubala has praised Okoronkwo while speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire, suggesting that he has ‘so much talent’.
Skubala wants more from Okoronkwo in the final third, but thinks everybody can see his quality and potential.
“Frankie’s got so much talent, that’s why we like him,” said Skubala.
“I think we can go and get more numbers. He knows that, we know that, we talk about that.
“I think he’s got quality. He can get in behind more, and he can get more chances, but his quality is there for everybody to see. He’s got his goal and he should be really pleased,” he added.
Francis Okoronkwo may be running out of time at Everton
Everton saw major potential in Okoronkwo during his time at Sunderland, hence striking a seven-figure deal.
That deal came more than four years ago, and Okoronkwo hasn’t even had a sniff of first-team action at Everton.
Okoronkwo turned 21 in September, and this is the age when he really needs to be breaking through.
Instead, Okoronkwo is mostly featuring on the bench at Lincoln and really needs to kick on in order to impress Everton.
Hopefully, that first goal will spark an upturn in form for Okoronkwo, but he appears to be running out of time with the Toffees.