Goodison View: Everton academy duo closer to first-team setup after EFL loan spell

Charlie Whitaker and Luke Butterfield returning to Everton with “really good feedback” from Stockport County is brilliant news for Sean Dyche.

Speaking to the club’s website (27 November), Toffees Under-21s coach Paul Tait said the duo gained valuable experience of a first-team setup while on a training loan at the League One side last month.

The two 21-year-olds have missed just one Premier League 2 match between them so far this term, and having taken the step up to first-team training, both could now do so as part of Sean Dyche’s squad.

Tait said: “Charlie and Luke have both been great for us this season. We got them out on a training loan at Stockport County for a few days about a month ago and that was great for them.

“You put them in that environment and they’re getting opportunities to train with a first team – they went and did it, really enjoyed it and got really good feedback from Stockport.

“It’s something that I want to do with more of the boys as well – even the much younger ones.”

Everton could call upon Charlie Whitaker and Luke Butterfield

While the Toffees have a whole host of academy youngsters who will feel prepared to make the step up to first-team level, Dyche has been hesitant to throw many inexperienced players in at the deep end.

Midfielder Butterfield would have plenty of obstacles ahead of him to break into an already-crowded midfield for the Blues, Whitaker is in a position where Dyche may have no option but to call upon him.

Whitaker has already scored six goals in just eight Premier League 2 appearances this term, showing a prolificness which has been far from evident in the Toffees’ first-team forward options so far in 2024/25.

Of the strikers Dyche has at his disposal, just two have found the net for a total of four goals, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin not scoring since mid-September and Beto doing so just once in the league.

Half of the Blues’ last six matches have been drawn 0-0, and if Dyche really wants to change things up to fire his side up the table, calling up a 21-year-old ready for first-team action could well be the solution.

In other Everton news, Jeff Stelling slammed the notion that Sean Dyche was to blame for the Toffees’ 0-0 draw with Brentford.

For more Everton news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.

The post Goodison View: Everton academy duo closer to first-team setup after EFL loan spell appeared first on Goodison News.