Everton have some great young players, but they have failed to impress in difficult circumstances at Goodison Park.
After a golden summer in the England youth teams, much of the pre-season focus was on how much action these young stars would see in the Premier League.
And Everton, adding Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane and Lewis Gibson to an already promising homegrown squad, were held up as the shining light of English football.
These youngsters may have been handed minutes for the Toffees so far this term, but the situation has seriously changed.
Everton, as it stands, are without a permanent manager and find themselves in the midst of a relegation battle.
It was hoped David Unsworth would give opportunities to the stars of Everton’s youth teams and he has – but the experience has hardly been beneficial to the players.
There can be little gained from these prospects finding themselves on the wrong end of hammering after hammering as they have in recent weeks, with nine goals conceded to fairly mediocre opposition in Atalanta and Southampton in the last two matches.
At Unsworth’s request, Jonjoe Kenny found himself out of position at left back – and lost every time the Saints attacked – when Leighton Baines went off injured at St Mary’s on Sunday.
It was a hopeless performance from the Under-20 World Cup-winning defender, but hardly one that he can be blamed for in the formative stages of his career.
Unsworth may have been encouraged to give opportunities to young players, but they are not currently benefiting from scenarios such as Kenny’s.
The interim manager has so far done more harm than good.
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