EVERTON under-18s will look to get back to winning ways and continue to hold off the challenge of Manchester City and Liverpool when they travel Stoke City this Saturday (kick-off 11am).
With several players away on international duty for both sides Everton’s scheduled match with Sunderland over the weekend had to be called off.
It meant Manchester City took advantage of their inaction to join Neil Dewsnip’s side at the top of the Group C table on 45 points following their 5-3 victory over Derby County.
Everton, though, do have two games in hand on their closest rivals for the title.
Following their 2-2 draw against Middlesbrough in their last Academy League they will be keen to claim all three points this weekend.
A number of the Academy players were away on international duty this week.
Everton striker Hallum Hope scored from the penalty spot as England under-17s scored a 3-2 victory over Northern Ireland on Saturday in the opening game of the Elite Qualifying Round for the UEFA European U17 Championship Finals.
John Lundstram also featured as John Peacock’s side had to come from behind to win.
Yesterday England won 2-1 against host nation Belgium, with Lundstram playing the full match and Hope coming on as a second-half substitute
They now face Spain in the final match on Thursday.
