Everton goalkeeper Douglass Lukjanciks believes young players are wrong to view non-league football as a step backwards after beginning his loan spell with hometown club Southport.
The 18-year-old joined the National League North side earlier this month on a deal running until January, giving him his first sustained experience of senior football. Lukjanciks has been with Everton since Under-12 level but believes leaving the academy environment is an important part of his development.
Lukjanciks relishing Southport opportunity
Speaking in an interview with the Liverpool Echo, Lukjanciks said there was never any disappointment when he learned where Everton planned to send him.
“I’d highly recommend it. When I was told I was coming here, I didn’t see it as a step down. It’s a new challenge, and one I can take on.
“Lads seeing non-league as a step down is the wrong mindset, wrong mentality because you should be able to play whatever, non-league, Football League or Premier League, it shouldn’t really matter. I think if you can play, you can play in any league.”
There is an added significance to this particular loan. Born in Latvia but raised in Southport, Lukjanciks attended Stanley High School and grew up only a few miles from Haig Avenue.
“The day I found out I was coming, I was speaking to my mate and I said going on loan to Southport would definitely be something special,” he said.
“Playing for your hometown team, five minutes later I got a phone call to say I was coming here, it’s a bit of a surreal moment.”
Lukjanciks was immediately placed into senior football, making his debut on the day his loan was announced as Southport beat Morecambe 2-1. He has since continued to feature, including an impressive display away at Worksop Town in which a series of saves earned him Southport’s media man-of-the-match award.
The pathway is a familiar one for young Everton goalkeepers. Jordan Pickford had spells with Darlington and Alfreton Town during the early stages of his career before eventually establishing himself as Everton’s number one.
The Blues have continued to use loans further down the pyramid to expose academy goalkeepers to the demands of senior men’s football. With first-team opportunities naturally difficult to come by for young keepers, regular competitive minutes can offer an important next stage in their development.
Everton’s wider squad situation was covered in our recent look at the latest news around Jarrad Branthwaite, Jack Grealish and Tyler Dibling, while the team selected for the recent game against Ipswich underlined the competition Lukjanciks ultimately faces if he is to make the step into David Moyes’ senior squad.
For now, though, the teenager’s focus is considerably closer to home.
“I’m enjoying it, hopefully I can keep taking it in my stride and keep performing,” he said.
For an 18-year-old goalkeeper getting his first taste of senior football, that is exactly what Everton will want from the next few months.
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