David Moyes has called up five of Everton’s U21 players to first-team training at Finch Farm.
As the international break gets up and running, Moyes has allowed some of Paul Tait’s youngsters to make up the numbers in training.
Everton are missing some of their star players like James Garner and Iliman Ndiaye due to their international commitments.
But there are a number of exciting players from the U21s side whom Moyes will get to have a good look at.
Everton v Chelsea - Premier League
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Demi Akarakiri
Perhaps the most exciting of all of the call-ups to Finch Farm training is midfielder Demi Akarakiri.
The 17-year-old is promising to be the next midfielder in line after Harrison Armstrong to emerge out of the academy set-up.
Competition Apps Goals Assists Minutes
U18 Premier League 11 1 0 900′
Premier League 2 (U21) 8 2 0 454′
FA Youth Cup 4 0 1 414′
Premier League Int. Cup U21 4 0 0 210′
National League Cup 2 0 0 92′
EFL Trophy 1 0 1 74′
TOTAL 30 3 2 2,144′
Akarakiri is really impressing in the Everton youth sides, having now earned himself a spot in Tait’s U21s squad.
Although Everton may have an abundance of midfielders currently, Akarakiri is knocking on the door of the first team.
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Francis Gomez
Midfielder Francis Gomez has been a regular in Tait’s U21s side this season, with 16 appearances (14 starts) in the Premier League 2.
Tait was frustrated with Gomez against Burnley U21s having somehow avoided a sending off for a poor challenge on the opposition.
Despite this blip, the 20-year-old is another of the promising midfielders to make his mark in the U21s set-up.
Joel Catesby
Forward Joel Catesby was also spotted in the images posted by the club on their website during the international break.
Although most of the focus is on Braiden Graham, Catesby is now making his return from a broken fibula back in October.
Bradford City v Everton U21 - Vertu Trophy
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
There will be no rush to put the 19-year-old back into the action given the severity of his injury, but he is in line with his four-six month recovery time frame.
Luca Davis
There was one defender spotted in the images and that was Luca Davis.
This is a player who may catch the attention of Moyes as Davis is naturally a centre-back, but he has been playing at right-back under Tait recently.
Moyes has utilised Jake O’Brien’s defensive versatility in a similar way over the last 12 months on Merseyside.
So, this is a player who could fare well under the 62-year-old Everton boss in the future.
Coby Ebere
Another exciting winger on the books at Finch Farm, Coby Ebere inked a two-year extension on Merseyside earlier this season.
Ebere’s numbers may not be that of Graham, but he has also shown his versatility in being able to play across the front line.
At the age of 20, however, those at Everton will be hoping for him to step it up a gear having returned just one assist this season.
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