Jarrad Branthwaite and Joao Virginia were the surprise names in first-team training for Everton this week, with the Liverpool Echo reporting that Carlo Ancelotti has been taking a look at a pair of young prospects.
With the Toffees safe from relegation and well adrift of the Champions League places too, there might never be a better chance for Ancelotti to test out a couple of unproven talents at Premier League level.
And considering that Yerry Mina is expected to be on the sidelines for the time being with a thigh tear, the door might just have opened for Branthwaite to make his senior debut – five months after arriving from Carlisle United.
A ball-playing 17-year-old who has been likened to Declan Rice and Michael Carrick due to his ability to play in defence or midfield, Branthwaite was a target for what felt like most of the big clubs in English football.
Everton won the race, however, paying up to £1 million for his sought-after signature after a series of stand-out performances in League Two.
If Branthwaite’s season has been a bit of a dream, however, Virignia’s more closely resembles a nightmare.
The Portuguese goalkeeper was expected to make a huge impression on loan at Reading but everything that could have gone wrong, well, did. After just two error-ridden games, Virginia was dropped and eventually returned to Merseyside well ahead of schedule.
But with Everton being linked to a whole host of new shot-stoppers recently, Virginia could perhaps be handed the chance to show why he should be the number two next season.
After all, he remains very highly regarded within the walls of Finch Farm.
“Outstanding, absolutely outstanding,” U23 coach David Unsworth told the Echo.“He’s a great lad, got great English, he’s commanding
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