TOM UP FOR THE FIGHT
Davies ready to make Marc
TOM DAVIES admits he faces a tough task to force his way into Marco Silva’s Everton side – but is ready for the fight.
Davies, 20, made his first appearance of the season in the 2-1 win over Southampton last Saturday.
The midfielder only got the nod to come off the bench when Morgan Schneiderlin picked up a firsthalf knock.
Davies is one of a number of young Everton players who could face a challenge to get regular first-team football this season.
The Toffees brought in Andres Gomes, Bernard and Richarlison this summer to bolster their midfield and attacking options.
So Davies will have to take his opportunities to impress the new boss when he gets them, but believes Silva’s style of football will suit him.
Tempo
He said: “There’s big competition. When I get a chance, I have got to take it, so that’s what I tried to do.
“It’s always high-tempo training and everyone trying to get in the team, so it’s only going to benefit me.
“The way the manager plays suits me and the way he wants me to play is how I like to play and see the game.
“It’s high tempo. He wants me to press, get forward, be a box-tobox midfielder.
“That’s how I want to play, really, so it’s good to have that sort of freedom and role in the team.
“It’s something I’m looking forward to this year, developing into the player I want to be.
“This year I’m hoping to progress again and under the manager I think I can do that.”
Everton spent close to £90m in the summer transfer window, also signing defenders Yerry Mina and Lucas Digne from Barcelona and securing a loan deal for Chelsea centre-back Kurt Zouma.
Despite the outlay, Everton’s new chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale is keen for the club to continue the production line of homegrown talent. Barrett-Baxendale is confident the club will continue to attract top talent but also believes Silva and director of football Marcel Brands are the right men to bring through talented youth players as well. “If we are to fully achieve our goals, we must continue to attract the very best talent to Everton,” she wrote in a column with ESPN.
“Marcel has a proven track record for unearthing talent and developing players.
“Marcel and Marco have placed a key emphasis on the development of young talent.
“Everton is renowned for its world-class academy and Marcel and Marco have a shared vision to utilise our productive and respected youth system as a vital component of their strategy.”