Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has told The Guardian that 16-year-old Thierry Small has done well in first-team training.
The Toffees are in action against Leicester City this evening, and will be looking to build on Saturday’s home win over Chelsea.
Ahead of the game, Everton welcomed teenager Small into their first-team training sessions, with the teenager impressing in the Under-18’s.
Formerly of West Bromwich Albion, the 16-year-old left back looks to have a huge future ahead of him, and could emerge into the Everton first-team in the near future.
Small is already being linked away from Goodison Park; Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Juventus are among the clubs looking to sign Small according to the Daily Mail.
Everton must now try to convince Small that he is better off staying with the Toffees than leaving for a club of that size, and a call up to first team training is a good start.
Ancelotti has now suggested that Small ‘did well’ in first-team training, claiming he has the quality and physicality to be a first-team player.
Ancelotti heaped more praise on Small by claiming he is one of Everton’s best young players, but did preach some caution by noting that he is ‘really, really young’.
“Thierry did well,” said Ancelotti. “He is really, really young. He is like a kid, he is only 16 years old, but he has quality and physicality to play with the first team. He is one of our best players in the academy, so I was pleased to bring him to train with us. I think for what he is doing it was good for him, too,” he added.
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