It’s coming up to the time of the year when the manager and background staff have some decisions to make regarding the future of our youngsters. 21-year-old John Lundstram is one of those youngsters. Currently on loan at league one outfit Scunthorpe United, the midfielder has never made an appearance for Everton and has drifted around the lower divisions since 2013, in loan spells with five different clubs. I think what needs to be considered for this player is his age- is he still considered young for a potential Everton player? Especially when you consider that Barkley is the same age and despite a poor season has shown the potential to be a top Premier League player.
I think that Martinez should consider youngsters who also show such potential if he really wants to compete for a Champions League spot. However it could be argued that some players develop at later stages in their careers and in some cases this has been true, for example Arsenal’s Coquelin who is just proving that he has the potential to be a Premier League player after loan spells with three lower division sides. I believe that Martinez should consider these factors and send Lundstram back out on loan to see if more improvement can be made but must be effectual in his choices when players reach a certain age, if we are to compete at the highest level.
20-year-old forward Chris Long is also a player Martinez will have to monitor closely and is one I believe that he will have to consider for a potential squad rotation player next season. He has had a promising loan spell at Championship team Brentford, scoring four goals in ten games and looking like he has progressed further than Lundstram playing at a higher level of football. It has been speculated that Long will return to Brentford next season, manager Mark Warburton said “He is a very talented player and one we very much look forward to welcoming back to the club”.
A return to Brentford on loan could also be used to our advantage if Brentford gain promotion to the Premiership, then Martinez should be able to make a full decision on Long’s position within the club depending on how he handles playing in the top division. However, if we fail to sign any strikers in the summer, Long should be deeply considered. The player I think that should be most closely examined in our youth academy is 17-year-old Ryan Ledson, who has proved his ability to play at a higher age level becoming a pivotal part of the Club’s Under-21 side at the age of 16, and captaining England Under-17’s to glory in the European Championship finals in Malta. I think if Martinez nurses Ledson wisely he could be the latest potential superstar to come out of the academy ranks.
