Braiden Graham may have stolen the headlines in Everton’s FA Youth Cup victory over Ipswich Town, but there were three other players who showed exactly how good they could become.
It was Graham whose quality dragged Everton into the quarter finals, but Demi Akarakiri, Rocco Lambert and Shea Pita all shone in their own regards.
The Everton coaches have been so impressed with Graham when he has been called up to first-team training at Finch Farm.
He is not the only youngster who David Moyes has taken a good look at this season behind the scenes, though.
Over recent years, Everton have not produced a lot of talent from their academy that has had much of an impact on the first team.
Does David Moyes need to put more trust in Everton’s academy players? 😤
Surely some of these players can do better than Beto and Dwight McNeil! 😡
Everton striker Braiden Graham. Everton manager David Moyes.
Credit: Getty Images/Andrew Kearns – CameraSport/Visionhaus.
However, Everton News has picked out three star performers that fans should keep an eye on over the coming months following Thursday’s cup victory.
Everton v West Ham United - Premier League
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Rocco Lambert – Right-back
Moyes has admitted Everton want to sign a new right-back having begun his search more than 12 months ago.
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In addition to the fact that Jake O’Brien is currently suspended, Rocco Lambert put in a display that warranted the attention of the 62-year-old Everton boss.
Which player do you think could be next to shine in Everton’s first team? 🤩
There's some really exciting youngsters currently at Finch Farm 🔥
Everton's Braiden Graham inspecting the pitch before the match during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Everton. Everton midfielder Malik Olayiwola. Justin Clarke of Everton looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Accrington Stanley and Everton.
Credit: Getty Images/Andrew Kearns – CameraSport/Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto/Matt McNulty.
It took the right-back just a matter of minutes to provide Shea Pita with an assist to open the scoring at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton are in need of an attacking right-back and that is exactly what Lambert demonstrated against the Tractor Boys.
Having picked up a yellow card for a rash challenge in the first half, Lambert showed a great deal of composure up against a tricky Jayden Adetiba, who the young right-back silenced in the second 45.
Shea Pita – Winger
At just 16 years of age, Pita looked like Everton’s biggest threat until Graham produced a moment of magic in added time.
The Welsh forward opened the scoring and ran rings around the Ipswich defenders for the large majority of the match.
He may well be thinking he should have doubled his tally, but he was unable to direct a second-half effort beyond the Ipswich goalkeeper from inside the box.
This is a player who had the Everton fans in attendance up off their feet
Pita has now played 22 games across all competitions this season and provided four goals and four assists.
His route to the first team is still a long way off, but he is showing the early signs of a really promising forward.
Demi Akarakiri – Midfielder
It was not a polished performance from Akarakiri. There were some sloppy moments from the Everton midfielder, but his quality was clear.
Akarakiri joined Everton a couple of years ago from Arsenal and he showed the potential of a well-rounded midfielder.
In the early stages of the game, Akarakiri played a stunning through ball to Graham, but the forward was unable to beat the goalkeeper from inside the box.
The 17-year-old midfielder also squandered his own opportunity from inside the box, but when he got things right it was clear this is a player with a lot of potential.
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