Alious
Everton Football Club has a storied history of nurturing exceptional youth talents, with Wayne Rooney being the most prominent example. Rooney, who later became a Manchester United legend, made his mark by scoring on his Premier League debut for Everton in 2002 at the tender age of 16, memorably beating Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Seaman.
While Rooney stands out, other notable academy products include Ross Barkley and Anthony Gordon. Gordon, now thriving at Newcastle United, represents another success story from Everton’s Finch Farm academy, despite his departure causing some controversy among fans.
During his time at Everton, Gordon made 78 first-team appearances, scoring eight goals and providing seven assists. His crucial goal against Manchester United in the 2021/22 season played a significant role in Everton’s Premier League survival. However, Gordon’s performances have notably improved since joining Newcastle, where he has netted 15 goals and contributed 11 assists in 73 appearances – a better return than his Everton statistics in fewer games.
Gordon’s success serves as an inspiration to many young players in Everton’s academy, including Isaac Heath, a versatile 19-year-old midfielder who is showing promise in the U21 setup. Heath, who can play in central midfield and as a full-back, has been impressive in the Premier League 2 this season, scoring two goals and providing one assist in five matches.
Heath’s potential has not gone unnoticed, with football journalist Joe Thomas describing him as “impressive.” The young talent is currently training with the first-team squad during the international break, along with other promising Everton youngsters. This experience is likely to be invaluable for Heath, who has so far only played at youth level for the club.
While Heath’s statistics in the youth setup don’t yet match those of Gordon at the same stage, there’s considerable excitement about his potential. The club hopes he could become another standout product of their academy, potentially even surpassing the achievements of players like Gordon or Rooney.
As Heath continues to develop and impress in the Premier League 2, Everton’s first team, under the management of Sean Dyche, is focused on improving their Premier League position and avoiding the relegation zone. The emergence of talents like Heath provides hope for the future, as Everton continues its tradition of developing homegrown stars.
Alious
