- Braiden Graham has 23 goals in 32 appearances this season for the Everton youth setup
- Beto is ruled out for the West Ham game with a concussion
- David Moyes has exercised caution when asked about bringing Graham to the first team
Everton head to West Ham on Saturday without their in-form striker Beto, who is sidelined with a concussion. David Moyes has not given Thierno Barry any assurances of a start, despite the Portuguese forward being the natural replacement.
Barry has scored only once in his last ten matches, and his display against Liverpool last weekend was underwhelming. When asked what Barry needs to do to earn a place, Moyes was blunt: “Score, play well and be a team player.”
That leaves the door open for other options for David Moyes to consider. Apart from the first team, Braiden Graham from the academy is turning some heads with his performances in the Everton youth setup.
Braiden Graham with a golden run for the youth team
The 18‑year‑old Northern Irishman was the hero for Everton Under‑21s in their PDL play‑off thriller against Watford. After scoring four goals against Ipswich the previous week, Graham struck twice in the 3‑2 extra‑time victory. His first came in the 19th minute, cutting inside from the edge of the box and drilling a low effort past the keeper.
Then, deep into the 120th minute, with penalties looming, substitute Kingsford Boakye delivered an inch‑perfect cross to the back post, where Graham surged in to power a header home and send the young Toffees into the quarter‑finals.
The brace took his season tally for the academy to 23 goals in 32 matches, including 4 goals in 4 appearances for the U-18s, plus two assists. Under‑21s head coach Paul Tait was full of praise. “Braiden was outstanding and did some excellent things. He just keeps going because he’s got that fire in his belly and the determination.”
Tait added: “If you’ve got a front player who can come and link it to feet and go in behind, then you’ve got a good front player.”
David Moyes is having a cautious approach towards Braiden Graham, but cannot ignore the numbers
Moyes has been watching. Back in January, he acknowledged Graham’s progress but urged patience. “Braiden is doing well. We need him to build up his physicality and speed, all those things that come from stepping up to the Premier League.”
When asked again this week about promoting the teenager, Moyes said everyone wants young players to come through and that he is pleased with Braiden’s form, but added that he “might have a little bit to go before reaching the first team.” However, these comments were before Graham’s heroics against Watford.
Yet necessity may accelerate that timeline. Beto is out. Barry is out of form and low on confidence. Everton are chasing European football with five games remaining. Moyes himself admitted when asked if this is an opportunity for Barry, but was unsure about the forward. “If I play him.” That is not a ringing endorsement.
Braiden Graham has the hunger, the goalscoring instinct, and momentum at the moment. He is not the finished product, but neither was Wayne Rooney when he burst onto the scene.
If Moyes is looking for a spark, he could do worse than turn to the 18‑year‑old who simply cannot stop scoring. The case for Braiden Graham grows stronger with every late winner. Can David Moyes hand over the teenager his chance against West Ham, or perhaps towards the end of this campaign, is yet to be seen, but Braiden Graham is ready to take his chances.
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