Everton: 5 Youngsters Poised for Big Futures at Goodison Park

With still no sign of any incoming transactions to capture the imagination of Everton fans, it's time for a look at some of the hottest properties yet to break into the Everton team. 

Currently champions of the youth team game, Everton boast an impressive array of potential gems in their academy, all of whom appear eager to express themselves at the highest level. With finances sparse at Everton, it is vital that their youth team conveyor belt continues to churn out these potential stars. Here is a look at some of the current crop to watch out for.

Criteria: Fiercely talented and without a first team appearance so far. 

Ross Barkley: Midfield, 17

Early on last season, Barkley was primed to ignite his career at Everton. After scoring and starring in an early reserve team fixture against Chelsea, he was promptly drafted up on to the senior XI’s bench in September, ousting out players with proven first team experience. Barkley is an extremely powerful central midfielder, with both attacking and defensive qualities, capable of goals. 

The summer of 2010 had seen Barkley play a pivotal role for England Under-17s, and by the start of the 2010 season, he was already in the England Under-19s. However, this recognition was ultimately to prove tragic, as Barkley broke his leg on international duty, prematurely ending a season that promised so much. 

David Moyes has since admitted he expected Barkley to feature in Everton’s first team had he remained fit and envisages him making a contribution this coming season. If his recuperation remains on schedule and he recaptures his game, look for Barkley to turn heads in the 2011/12 season.

Luke Garbutt: Left Back, 18

Garbutt is a left sided, confident defender, oozing leadership qualities. He was controversially plucked from Leeds United’s academy a couple of summers ago, a coup for Everton that riled Leeds. Some believe, in retaliation, chairman Ken Bates banned Everton from competing for the signature of Fabien Delph, another target from Leeds at the time. 

Garbutt has steadily moved through the England ranks, captaining the Under-17s before recently reaching the Under-19s. A perpetual performer for Everton’s reserve team, he and fellow left sided defender Jake Bidwell are the probable reason Everton feel comfortable enough to not seek backup for Leighton Baines at left back.

John Lundstram: Midfield, 17

Everton moved quickly to secure the immediate future of local lad Lundstram as soon as he turned 17 earlier this year. The youngster has been away this summer performing for England Under-17s at the World Cup, testing himself against the best in his peer group. 

Last year, despite his first year academy status, he broke into Everton’s reserve team and is a player David Moyes is already monitoring closely. A competent passer, Lundstram’s primary weapon is his ability in the tackle, constantly striving to disrupt the opposition's play.

Lundstram follows Everton's recent trend of producing exciting talented central midfielders, following after Jack Rodwell and Barkley. How Everton fans would enjoy seeing that trio vie against one another for midfield berths in Everton teams of the future.

Tyias Browning: Right Back, 17

Browning featured regularly for Everton’s reserves at right back last season, playing more times for Everton's second string than any other first year scholar, and he is another David Moyes has high hopes for. As with John Lundstram, he signed a contract as soon as he was eligible (earlier this year), committing himself to Everton for the next phases of his career. 

A solid, strong defender, Browning’s crowning asset is his blistering pace, and his ability to add width from the right to any attack. He played a prominent role last year in Everton’s glorious FA Premier Academy League winning side and will look to impress during his second year spent in Everton's academy next season. 

With Phil Neville and Tony Hibbert gradually entering the latter years of their career, in a few years time, Evertonians could well see Browning and Seamus Coleman competing for Everton’s right back slot for a long period of time.

Hallam Hope: Striker, 17

Hope may be the player on this list Everton supporters most want to succeed, such is the prestige and aura surrounding strikers at Goodison Park. The signs are good for Hope, a talented finisher. He is equipped with power and strength both crucial if he is to eventually transcend to the physical environment of the Premier League.

He was a top scorer, with 13 goals for Everton in the FA Premier Academy League, grabbing another in the FA Youth Cup and more for England youth teams. His season was curtailed due to his constant call ups to the international fold. Hope also eventually appeared in Everton’s second string last year and will be keen to feature more regularly next season.

As with Lundstram, he has spent the summer performing at the World Cup for England Under-17s. Hope is currently the top scorer in the England Under-17s squad with an impressive haul of 12 goals in 17 games. He finished the World Cup with two goals from four games, as England were eliminated at the Quarter Final stage after a decent showing.

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