View: Everton academy quartet can stake first-team claims after pre-season opportunities

Harrison Armstrong, Jenson Metcalfe, Francis Okoronkwo and Harry Tyrer could all soon make their Everton debuts after featuring in pre-season.

Royal Blue Mersey totted up the four’s individual minutes [1 August] in a report assessing the academy’s impact on the Toffees’ pre-season campaign, in which three of the players were used out of position.

While goalkeeper Tyrer stayed between the sticks for his 30 minutes against Salford City, most of central midfielder Metcalfe’s 66 minutes against Salford and Sligo Rovers came on the right flank.

Okoronkwo likewise had to play out wide for half an hour against Salford despite being a natural striker, and Armstrong’s own 30-minute cameo in the same game – also from the right-hand side – garnered praise from Dyche post-match [Liverpool Echo, 30 July].

Everton youngsters show much-needed versatility in pre-season

Pre-season, as ever, is as good a time as any to experiment with new tactics, formations, and of course players, with Dyche more than happy to blood his academy starlets against fully-grown opposition.

The versatility on show from Armstrong, Metcalfe and Okoronkwo in particular will give Dyche food for thought with the Premier League campaign on the horizon, and several gaps still to fill in the first team.

Most notably, the wings are arguably the area in which Dyche’s squad is thinnest, thus using the trio as makeshift wingers – despite all favouring more central positions – suggests opportunities could arise.

The arrival of Jesper Lindstrom and re-signing of Jack Harrison have bolstered the Toffees’ wide stocks, but given both are loanees, injuries or circumstantial changes could see both return to their parent clubs.

However, with Armstrong, Metcalfe and Okoronkwo waiting in, and on, the wings, Dyche may have the answers within if Lindstrom, Harrison, or Dwight McNeil are ever unavailable.

In other Everton news, Sean Dyche was stunned at a question Jarrad Branthwaite’s future after the Blues completed their latest signing.

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