Everton's new signing Hayden Hackney has been backed to shine by Kevin Phillips, who enjoyed a spectacular debut season in the Premier League with Sunderland
Kevin Phillips enjoyed one of the most spectacular debut seasons in the Premier League of all time and he reckons the talent of Everton new boy Hayden Hackney is one of football’s “worst-kept secrets", as the midfielder prepares to compete at the highest level.
Back in 1999/2000, under the management of Blues legend Peter Reid, Phillips plundered 30 Premier League goals for Sunderland as the Wearside outfit finished seventh for what was their first top-half finish in the top flight since they came ninth in 1956.
Everton manager David Moyes has an impressive record of taking players out of the Championship and developing them into polished Premier League performers, having plucked Tim Cahill from Millwall and Joleon Lescott from Wolverhampton Wanderers during his first spell in charge at Goodison Park, plus Jarrod Bowen from Hull City while at West Ham United.
Hackney was voted Championship Player of the Season during 2025/26, his final campaign at Middlesbrough, and Phillips has backed him to successfully take the step up following his £16.5million switch from Teesside.
Speaking courtesy of BestBettingSites.co.uk, the 52-year-old former England striker told the ECHO: “With Hayden, it’s one of those worst-kept secrets, and he was always going to be moving on.
“It was just a case of where. I think Everton are getting a fantastic player.
“It’s a big jump from the Championship to the Premier League, but he's got qualities. You don’t sign for Everton unless you have that.
“He’s technically a very good player, he can get around a pitch, can find a pass and can create opportunities for the strikers and wide men. So, I think he’ll handle it, he’ll relish it.
“He’ll be tested week in and week out. It’s going to be really interesting to see how he handles it, but I think he will, to be honest.”