Everton striker Hornby learning from Ferguson

Everton teenager Fraser Hornby has already been compared to Duncan Ferguson and he’s desperate to follow in the footsteps of the Goodison Park hero after being converted to a striker.

Hornby was handed his Everton debut this season by Sam Allardyce in a Europa League qualifier in Cyprus against Apollon Limassol.

The 18-year-old has won plaudits for a series of impressive displays with Everton’s under-23 side where his bustling style has been likened to Ferguson, the former Dundee United, Rangers and Scotland forward, who is now firstteam coach with Everton.

Hornby, who is in Germany with the Scotland Under-19 squad ahead of tomorrow’s second Uefa Elite Round game against the Netherlands, has only recently moved up front after initially coming to prominence as a central midfielder.

“I only started playing as a striker last season for Everton and I’ve stuck with it,” Hornby said. “It’s just recently I’ve started playing there for Scotland too.

“Up front is my preferred position and that’s where I see myself playing in the future.

“Obviously, being a fellow Scot and a striker I’ve been compared to Duncan Ferguson a few times at Everton because of my style of play! But if I could have even half the career that big Dunc had then I would be really happy.

“He coaches the first team so if I get to train with the first team, he’s around us working with the strikers.

“All of the staff at Everton have been really good to me and have helped me as a striker because that is a new position to me and they have helped better myself as an individual player.”