Everton under-23s manager David Unsworth has revealed how he is working towards putting youth player Tyler Onyango in the spotlight for first-team promotion.
The Liverpool Echo offered key highlights of the promising 17-year-old’s recent performances. He became a familiar face among the under-23s last seaso, and has been challenging for a chance at first-team football amid a flurry of formidable displays.
Onyango typically operates as a balanced central midfielder, recently forming a strong partnership with fellow academy prospects Einar Iversen and Beni Baningime in a 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Southport on Sunday.
First team winger Anthony Gordon played a crucial role in the victory as he played an incisive ball to Onyango, who then slotted past the Chelsea goalkeeper.
Youth boss Unsworth has since revealed that coaches have been encouraging Onyango to play a more offensive role, driving the ball forward with a view to scoring or setting up goals for teammates.
He spoke to the Liverpool Echo as he detailed Onyango’s attributes and how well he could adapt to first-team football:
“[He had] energy, great energy.
“We’ve been working with Tyler on actually arriving in the box and getting those goals.
“That will then take him onto the next level and put him on the first team radar. He’s done that [against Chelsea].
“These boys [Onyango and Iversen] are young boys as well, so there’s still loads and loads of development in them.
“They’re going to be, hopefully, top young players.”
Read Everton Verdict
The under-23s already utilise a number of fringe first team players in their ranks. The likes of Niels Nkounkou, Anthony Gordon and Jarrad Branthwaite are just some of the recognised names who serve both squads.
Unsworth’s latest appraisal could be a further boost for the squad. Onyango can form part of a successful tradition of youth development on Merseyside, as is evidenced by the presence of academy graduates in Carlo Ancelotti’s senior side.
Nkounkou and academy product Jonjoe Kenny featured in the recent 2-1 defeat to Newcastle – further evidence that youth development is working.
