Everton coach David Unsworth is full of praise for the ‘outstanding’ Lewis Warrington after the midfielder made the step up from the Under 18s to Premier League 2 level, while speaking to the Liverpool Echo.
2021 has certainly been a year of firsts for the Birkenhead-born 18-year-old.
Carlo Ancelotti confirmed ahead of this month’s 0-0 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion that Warrington had been called up for first-team training, handing the teenager a chance to prove himself against the likes of James Rodriguez, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
On April 12, Warrington also made his debut appearance for Everton’s U23 side, fast-tracked through the ranks after a string of fine performances at U18 level.
And Unsworth is thrilled to see another homegrown talent go from strength to strength at one of England’s most prosperous academies, hailing both Warrington and 17-year-old team-mate Charlie Whitaker.
“Lewis Warrington and Charlie Whitaker making their full debuts was terrific,” the Everton U23 coach explained.
“They’ve both been outstanding in the U18s and we wanted to give them an opportunity because we’ve had that many players injured and unavailable, we have had a really small squad.
“But I thought they were terrific and I’m very, very proud of them.”
Whitaker, a gifted attacking midfielder, has scored seven times in 23 matches for Everton’s youth sides this term.
After the likes of Thierry Small, Tyler Onyango and Nathan Broadhead were handed Premier League debuts by Carlo Ancelotti, don’t be surprised to see Whitaker and Warrington appear on the team sheet between now and the end of May.
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