Source: Liverpool_Echo
GREG O'KEEFFE: Teen dreams coming true for Everton FC youngsters at Goodison Park
THE kids are more than alright at Everton - they're outstanding. The fruit of all the hard-work done by Ray Hall and everyone at the Blues' academy was there for the world to see in the most testing of circumstances on Wednesday night.[LNB]Some clubs would see it as exacting to have to introduce one 17-year-old to a team in a crunch European tie which to all intents and purposes was a must win.[LNB]But David Moyes found himself in the situation where he had to ask two 17-year-olds; Jose Baxter and Shane Duffy to step-up to the plate along with largely untested right-back Seamus Coleman.[LNB]Of course their introduction was partly necessary because two other teenagers in Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling who have been thrust into the position of first-team regulars, were injured.[LNB]But as was the case whenever Rodwell and Gosling have been called upon, the trio of academy graduates who helped Everton's vital win against AEK did not let anybody down.[LNB]More than that, Seamus Coleman recovered from a debut to forget against Benfica, which would have been a tough night for a seasoned veteran, to a performance which purred with self-assurance and maturity in the ancient Greek capital.[LNB]If there was a league table of Premier League clubs with the most successful rate of turning academy hopefuls into first team players Everton would surely be running away with it.
