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.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.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.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.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.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.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.

Source: Liverpool_Echo