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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Sam Carroll

Everton confirm Leighton Baines first-team role after 'impressive' season

Leighton Baines has been working with the Everton first-team in an analysis capacity.

Baines retired after 13 years and 420 appearances for Everton at the end of the last season but was immediately brought back as professional development coach, a newly-created position which envelops the under-18s, under-23s and young first-teamers.

And Everton director of academy and u-23 manager David Unsworth revealed Baines has been 'everywhere' since starting the role, believing his input has been 'a great benefit' over the last 12 months.

Unsworth told evertonfc.com : “I’ve been very impressed with Leighton.

“He’s thrown himself in at the deep end."

The former Everton defender continued: "He’s mentoring, delivering one-to-one sessions, he’s in the classroom with the players. He’s also working on the analysis side with the first-team, ourselves in the Under-23s and the Under-18s. He’s everywhere!

“I’ve been really impressed with the dedication he’s shown, the hours he’s put in and the way he’s delivered to the players.

“He’s been a great benefit to us all and he’s helping our young players a lot.”

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