Predicting the Next 5 Everton Youth Players to Make 1st Team Debuts

Whether it's been at Bellefield, or later at Finch Farm, Everton's youth academy has produced a number of players who've gone on to make a name for themselves in the first team, or elsewhere.

Wayne Rooney, Leon Osman, Tony Hibbert and Jack Rodwell all came through the ranks at Everton before making their first team debuts, and going further back there are even bigger names to conjure with—Colin Harvey, Joe Royle and Kevin Ratcliffe, to name just a few.

In recent years, though, production has dried up slightly, and while prospects like Shane Duffy and Ross Barkley hover around the fringes of the first team, they've had to content themselves with opportunities coming off the bench, and trying to prove their worth away on loan spells.

So who will be the next big thing to come out of the youth academy at Everton?

Here are five who we think will be the next to get their chance.

Francisco Junior

Everton picked up young Portuguese midfielder Francisco Junior on a free transfer from Benfica early in 2012, impressed by his potential, and the fact that he had already been capped twice by Portugal at Under 21 level.

An energetic midfielder, Francisco is more of an all-round player than one who is limited to either a defensive or an offensive role in midfield, and his ability to use either foot means he is comfortable in possession.

He also fits the bill for what Everton are looking for at the moment—too often this season they've been found too weak and somewhat lacklustre in the middle of the park.

He's yet to make his first team debut, but he featured in some of the pre-season friendlies before the start of the current campaign, and he even managed a goal in a 4-1 win over Morecambe.

Matthew Kennedy

Matthew Kennedy, then aged just 16, made his SPL debut with Kilmarnock against Hibernian in 2011, and went on to make 11 first team appearances for Killie that season.

He was promptly snapped up by Everton in August 2012, and has slotted comfortably into the Under 21 side where he's featured 13 times, 11 of which games he started, and has scored three goals.

He's a wide player, but he's also on occasion played up front, and despite his age he's shown that he has the maturity and the right attitude to play senior football.

Kennedy joins other former Kilmarnock youth product Steven Naismith at Goodison, and he'll be hoping to follow in his footsteps and make his first team debut pretty soon.

John Stones

John Stones is one of the more recent arrivals at Goodison, having only arrived from Championship side Barnsley—where he signed his first pro contract at aged just 17 in 2011—in January of this year.

A right back, Stones will be hoping to go on and establish himself as first team regular in the years to come and to emulate Tony Hibbert, who, as a product of the Everton youth system has gone on to make 258 appearances for Everton in the EPL.

Seamus Coleman seems to have made the right back position his own for the time being, but if Stones is to remain patient, he'll get his opportunity.

It will then be up to him to prove that he has what it takes.

Hallam Hope

When Everton's academy side won the national title in 2010-11, Hallam Hope was instrumental in his team's success, and he was subsequently promoted to the Under 21 side in time for the following season.

Hope isn't the tallest of strikers, but he possesses excellent spatial awareness and has a keen eye for goal.

He's also been capped by England at youth level, although he may choose to play for either Trinidad and Tobago or Barbados, two other countries who he is eligible to represent.

He'll be keen to ensure he does more than live up to his name, and that he goes on to fully realise his potential if and when he gets his chance in the first team at Goodison.

John Lundstram

John Lundstram turned 19 in February, and after having made his debut for the Under 19 team at Everton in April of last year, went on to join the Reserve side this season, where he's become a regular.

Lundstram is a midfielder who likes to get forward and is equally capable of scoring goals and creating them with his talented left foot—his passing in particular has been shown to be perhaps the strongest side of his game.

Everton badly need an injection of something different into their midfield, and Lundstram might just be what David Moyes is looking for.