Source: Liverpool_Echo
Everton boss David Moyes turns to his little boys Blue for Europa League test
DON'T be surprised if applications to join Everton's Academy hit a record high when they next begin recruiting.[LNB]There was a time that becoming part of the youth set-up at a club the size of the Toffees meant the start of a long and winding road towards, just maybe, one day playing for the first team.[LNB]Things are slightly different this season.[LNB]Thanks to a well-catalogued but nonetheless horrific injury list, David Moyes has named two Academy players in his side to face BATE Borisov in the Europa League tonight with another on the bench.[LNB]Jack Bidwell, a 16-year-old left-back from Southport and midfielder Adam Forshaw, who is only two years older, will line-up for the Blues in a side which makes Jack Rodwell seem like a veteran.[LNB]In total, five players make full debuts, as keeper Carlo Nash gets his first senior start since joining the Blues in the summer of 2008 replacing Tim Howard.[LNB]Shane Duffy and Kieran Agard, make the starting line up for the first time.[LNB]Everton have already secured a place in the last 32 and the squad is riddled with injuries, so Moyes insists his team selection is the only common-sense approach to the dead-rubber tie.[LNB]Moyes said: 'We have earned the right to do that by getting through in the competition already and with the amount of injuries we've got, I've got to protect them for the Premier League.[LNB]'We've tried to give the Europa League every respect by playing all the players that we have done, but we will change it for Bate.[LNB]'There is a little bit of concern that BATE are a decent side. I thought they and Benfica would be our biggest threats.[LNB]'BATE have a number of international players in their squad but whatever opportunities you have in life, you have to try and take them.[LNB]'And there are opportunities here for youngsters at Everton because we do not have the biggest squad.'[LNB]Bidwell has played for England Under-17s and Under-16s and has forced his way into the reserves this season.
