Feeney on making full Everton debut, “grateful” for Besic support

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Morgan Feeney made his full Everton debut against Apollon Limassol on Thursday night.

Everton defender Morgan Feeney has told the club’s official website that the Toffees’ 3-0 win over Apollon Limassol was down to the experience of the starting eleven’s senior professionals.

Joel Robles, Mo Besic, Morgan Schneiderlin, Davy Klassen, Ademola Lookman, Nikola Vlasic and Kevin Mirallas all started the game, alongside youngsters Feeney, Harry Charsley, Beni Baningime and Fraser Hornby.

The Bootle-born ace made his full debut in the dead-rubber clash, after coming on as a substitute in the 5-1 loss to Atalanta earlier in the Toffees’ Europa League campaign.

Defender Feeney, 18, impressed alongside 25-year-old Besic at centre-back for the Toffees, and was full of praise for his elder counterparts – especially his centre-back partner as they combined to keep a clean sheet in Cyprus.

“That’s definitely the case and they’ve [senior players] done it all week since we’ve been with them,” Feeney said, when asked if the more experienced players helped Everton’s cause.

“They’ve helped us through it, they’ve got us through the game, just told us to relax and enjoy it, so we can’t be thankful enough for all that. Obviously Mo [Besic] helped me through the game being an experienced pro and I was grateful for that.

“The fans, too. They are always brilliant and get over no matter where we play, so it was important that we finished the group strong and got the win and the clean sheet for them.”

Speed machine Lookman scored a quick-fire brace in the first half to give Everton a comfortable 2-0 lead at half-time, before Vlasic scored late on to ensure an easy win for the Merseyside club ahead of Sunday’s showdown against Liverpool.

Manager Sam Allardyce was not in the dugout on Thursday night due to a medical appointment, but will have certainly taken note of Feeney’s display as well as his young teammates.