AS you approach the first game of the new season, the hope and expectation is of progress and success.
As Everton under-18s welcome West Ham United to Finch Farm for tomorrow’s Premier Academy League opener, there is real belief that those twin goals are achievable.
Last season Everton’s youth development programme continued the conveyor belt of talent in David Moyes’s first team with Jack Rodwell now a key part of the Premier League squad and the likes of Jose Baxter and James Wallace also.
The challenge is for the current youngsters in Neil Dewsnip’s U18s to follow their footsteps while also collecting results in the north west section of the Academy League.
In the build-up to the new campaign Everton’s results in pre-season have been encouraging.
They won a four-team tournament at Southend’s Roots Hall, which also featured Arsenal and Fulham. After a 2-1 win over Fulham, Everton won the final against the hosts on penalties following an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Dewsnip’s side completed their preparation with a 4-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers with Lewis Codling and Femi Orenuga, who was signed from Southend, both scoring twice.
Dewsnip said: “Pre-season has gone very well, we have played a lot of football and the results and performances have been very positive.
“All the squad have played enough football with the highlight being going down to Southend to play in a four-team tournament with Arsenal and Fulham and played on the main pitch. We won that tournament, which was lovely. That was encouraging and lots of the boys have played reserve football as well, which is always beneficial. Short of the odd injury, which is unfortunate, we are okay.
“Everybody is raring to go and it is good to go into the first game.
“We played West Ham a few years ago and drew 3-3 and it was a fantastic game.
“They have a reputation for good football and we are really looking forward to it.”
But as ever progress is the key word and Dewsnip is positive that his squad are capable of doing that on an individual and collective basis.
