Everton Under-21 boss Paul Tait has confirmed that Sean Dyche is already taking a look at Reece Welch and Stanley Mills. The Toffees talents missed their win over Dinamo Zagreb.
It is now day 11 of Dyche’s tenure at Goodison Park after replacing Frank Lampard at the helm. He has also already overseen a 1-0 win over Premier League leaders Arsenal, as the Kettering-born coach strives to guide the Merseyside natives clear of the relegation zone.
But next up for Dyche and Everton is a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Monday. Yet the 51-year-old is taking a look at the rising talents in the Toffees’ ranks before the Merseyside derby. A chance Welch and Mills will try to use after struggling to advance under Lampard.
Lampard named Mills in six Premier League squads this season before Farhad Moshiri fired him. But the 19-year-old failed to feature for a single second under the 44-year-old. While Welch also failed to feature for a single second over his two inclusions in a matchday team.
Isaac Price was the youngest Everton player to feature under Lampard in a Premier League fixture this season. The 19-year-old made one appearance for 32 minutes against Brighton & Hove Albion. He also made their bench against Manchester City and West Ham United.
Tait confirms Dyche is looking at Welch and Mills in first-team training at Everton
Dyche may now afford Welch and Mills their Premier League season debuts soon with Tait confirming they are training with Everton’s first-team. But Dyche did not name any of the Toffees’ gems in his squad that beat Arsenal. Ellis Simms was their youngest product at 22.
“They are with the first-team, both of them,” Tait simply confirmed to the Liverpool Echo.
Simms did not make it off the bench against Arsenal, either. So, Welch and Mills will hope to show Dyche their worth in first-team training at Everton. Welch has enjoyed two senior appearances previously but never in the top-flight. Mills has also played two times in cups.
Lampard gave Welch his Everton first-team debut against Boreham Wood in the FA Cup in March 2022 in stoppage time. He also afforded the Huddersfield-born centre-back his first senior start at Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup in their second-round match in August.
Mills, meanwhile, made his senior bow against Fleetwood and he faced AFC Bournemouth in the third round. But Lampard did not start the winger in either tie. So, Mills will hope to earn further chances to impress Dyche in training as the Everton manager casts his verdict.
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