Lookman the pick of Toffees’ starlets
Stand-in boss Craig Shakespeare hailed Ademola Lookman and Everton’s youngsters as a starting XI with an average age of 23 delivered a win in their final Europa League contest.
Shakespeare, who took charge of the Toffees while new boss Sam Allardyce remained at home due to a pre-arranged medical appointment, witnessed a team comprised of fringe players and kids defeat Apollon Limassol 3-0 in Cyprus last night as Everton avoided finishing bottom of the group.
Debutants Harry Charsley and Fraser Hornby were in the XI for the dead Group E rubber, and Shakespeare introduced three teenagers from the bench for their maiden first-team appearances, one of whom was 16-year-old Anthony Gordon.
Twenty-year-old Lookman who caught the eye with a first-half brace before Nikola Vlasic added a third late on. Asked whether he thought winger Lookman could be an important player for the Toffees, former Leicester manager Shakespeare said: “I do. Remember he’s only young and there were a lot of young players on that pitch.
“Of course as young players they need the opportunity, but they also need to show the ability as well. He (Lookman) did tonight.
“We just said to the squad after, look at this as a starting block and in the football you get your just rewards most of the time. The work ethic was there for all to see and so were the rewards.
“Hopefully that will give the young boys a bit of confidence and they can have a good career in the game.”