DAVID MOYES hopes the emergence of Ross Barkley can help kickstart Jack Rodwell’s stalled Everton FC career.
Teenager Barkley has made an instant impact after making his long-awaited breakthrough on to the first-team scene for Everton this season.
The 17-year-old midfielder followed an impressive debut against Queens Park Rangers last weekend with another starring role in Wednesday’s Carling Cup win over Sheffield United.
Rodwell, now 20, made his senior bow at a similar age but has seen his progress halted over the past 18 months through injury and loss of form.
And with both vying for a starting role in today’s trip to struggling Blackburn Rovers, Moyes hopes the success of Barkley can spur Rodwell and Everton’s other youngsters into moving up another level.
“I hope Ross is an encouragement to all the young boys at the club,” said the Goodison manager. “I think it's added to what we've got. Fellaini's 23, Jack is 20, Ross is 17. We've still tried to keep some of it young.
“He’s come in, we’ve tried to get him some games, and he’s not looking out of place. But you know in the coming months there will be times when we sit him back down and take him out of the firing line, but he’s done well to be included.”
Rodwell has been substituted in both Everton’s games this season, and faces a competition for places in midfield that has only intensified with Barkley’s progress.
Asked if it’s easy to forget Rodwell is still developing, Moyes added: “Definitely. The good thing about Everton is that we put the boys in the team early, we give them a chance.
“If they had been at other clubs, some of these boys might not have seen the light of day and would only be emerging now.
“He's been in and you've judged him really early and now you're maybe saying 'he's not really kept going'. But he came into the team young.
“He's a young boy, he's still coming on, he's still improving, he's quite a mature lad, but in some ways not as mature as he should be on the field. Hopefully with his development that will get better.”
