Everton have confirmed their commitment to 'fast-tracking' players after 15-year-old forward Emilio Lawrence scored his first under-18 goal at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Paul Tait was forced into fielding a youthful line-up with 'most' starlets being selected for the under-23 trip to Southampton on Sunday - as well as suffering a handful of injuries - yet Everton ran out 3-1 victors in the Midlands.
Tait watched as an own-goal put Everton behind in the first-half but strikes from Tom Cannon and Rafael Garcia reversed the deficit before substitute Lawrence sealed the win in only his second u-18 appearance with two minutes remaining.
Tait told evertonfc.com of the 15-year-old: “Emilio gave us a threat.
"He can hit the ball with both feet and shifted it from right to left to score a smashing goal.”.
Everton u-18s were beaten in the FA Youth Cup quarter-final by West Bromwich Albion last week but Tait admitted he was 'pleased' by the new crop of prospects.
He continued: “We are stretched because of injuries, so it provides opportunities for other players. Most of our first-year scholars are with the u-23s.
“But that is great, that is my job, I am a development coach. So where are the next players? Let’s get them with us and develop them.
“It is a fast-track for their progression. It gives them a glimpse of what it’s like to be a full-time player before next season.
“Today, we had u-16s in [defender] Jenson Metcalfe and [full-back, Roman] Quintyne playing 90 minutes.
“Owen Barker [16-year-old midfielder] played most of the game. And we replaced two 18-year-olds with two 15-year-olds in the second-half.
“It was pleasing because they played the same style of football and produced the same type of play we had from the older boys.”
