Koeman happy to kid around

RONALD KOEMAN reckons he has proved he is willing to give the kids a chance.

The Everton manager says English bosses are wary of putting their neck on the line by fielding young players.

But Koeman has given regular outings to midfielder Tom Davies

(left), defender Mason Holgate and attackers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ademola Lookman.

Southampton fans were vocal about the former Saints boss refusing to give some of their young stars game time.

Koeman hit back, saying: “Maybe, in Southampton, they can look how many players made their debuts in the first team of Southampton when I was the manager – seven, eight, nine? Why didn’t they play for the first team more regularly? Because they weren’t good enough.

“This season they played in Europe and the manager used a lot of players to have rotation.

Afraid

“Now they don’t play in Europe, tell me which young player is in the first team? Nobody.

“I know that I am a manager who is really giving young players a chance, when they deserve it.

“I like to give young players a chance, maybe more than the English managers because I know English football people say you have to look after young players. Maybe they say they can play 15 or 20 games but not more.

“They are afraid. I am not afraid to put young players in. I am not afraid, maybe they are.

“It is all about the talents of the young players.

“If they have the talent, you have to give an opportunity. If they don’t have the talent, then you have to look elsewhere.”

Davies, 19, has benefitted most from Koeman’s trust in youth with 20 appearances this season ahead of today’s visit to West Ham.

Koeman added: “I did not expect him to play all the games when I first put him in the team because normally young players dip after performing.”