Josh Bowler explains why he chose to join Everton academy, praises David Unsworth

Follow us on Google Discover

The Toffees academy ace played a big part in the club winning the Premier League 2 and Premier League Cup double in 2018-19.

Everton academy winger Josh Bowler has explained why he chose to join the Goodison Park club after helping England’s Under-20s win the World Cup.

The 20-year-old swapped the Queens Park Rangers academy for that of Everton in July 2017, one month after four Toffees players started the Young Lions’ U20s World Cup final victory over Venezuela.

Bowler proved a crucial player for David Unsworth as his Under-23s notched up a superb Premier League 2 and Premier League Cup double, the right-sided player featuring 16 times in the league and scoring the goal which sealed the title for the Toffees.

On 15 April, Everton’s U23s ran out 1-0 winners over their Brighton & Hove Albion counterparts, with Bowler cutting inside onto his left foot and curling a superb effort into the far corner for the only goal of the game, which left the Seagulls unable to catch the Toffees up at the top of the table.

Bowler, who has seen fellow U20 world champions Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jonjoe Kenny, Ademola Lookman and Kieran Dowell get time in Everton’s first team, spoke of how eager he is in progressing in a similar manner, something which Unsworth is eager to work towards in terms of his charges.

“I joined in the summer when England won the Under-20 World Cup and there were four Everton players in that team,” Bowler is quoted by the official Everton website as saying. “That had a big influence on my decision because I saw there was a pathway – and as soon as I came here, I realised that was the case.

“Unsy wants to get the young players into first-team training. As much as we like winning Under-23 games, and however good it was to win the league, you can still see the main aim for Unsy is to push as many players into the first team as possible – so it is great to be here.”

Bowler is highly rated within the Merseyside club’s academy and has previously been described by Unsworth as “terrific” and capable of producing “magic”. (official website)