Braiden Graham is starting to make it hard for David Moyes to ignore him at Everton.
The Northern Ireland U19 international has now scored 16 goals in just 23 appearances so far this season after netting a late stunner in the FA Youth Cup against Ipswich, a strike that prevented Everton from being knocked out with just seconds to go.
It comes just after Thierno Barry endured a nightmarish display in the 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth last time out, with fans eager to see Braiden Graham given a chance to show he could do better.
There are some concerns within the fanbase over whether the slender 18-year-old can handle the physicality of the Premier League, but there are two ways David Moyes can get him involved.
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.
David Moyes has two options when it comes to Braiden Graham
The worry amongst Everton fans is that Graham would be eaten alive in the Premier League playing as a lone striker, given his diminutive 5ft 7in frame.
However, eight of his 16 goals this season have come in 11 appearances as a left winger – a position where the teenager can avoid getting sucked into as many physical battles as he would leading the line.
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Just think about Aaron Lennon, for example. The former Everton winger managed to become an icon on these shores with 416 Premier League appearances and 21 caps for England, standing at just 5ft 5in – his position on the flank allowed him to escape the bulk of physical challenges.
Braiden Graham could also dovetail with Thierno Barry or Beto
Moyes should also consider fielding Graham in the No.10 role just behind either Barry or Beto, who are both far more imposing than the Irishman – standing at 6ft 5in and 6ft 4in respectively.
Playing alongside either the Frenchman or the Guinea-Bissau international would allow the boy from Ballygowan to focus on running in behind and feeding off knock downs – rather than be expected to win any aerial duels himself.
Graham – who Harrison Armstrong compared to Ronaldo – has made three appearances in the No.10 role already this season, so like the left flank, he is no stranger to that area.
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.
With Everton practically safe from relegation already, we see no harm in giving the teenager his Premier League debut in the coming weeks – with 16 goals in 23 games, he certainly deserves a shot.
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