Tom Cannon’s ‘outstanding’ loan form is great news for Everton boss Dyche

Follow us on Google Discover

Everton’s Premier League starlet Tom Cannon continues to make a big impact at Preston North End with EFL expert Clinton Morrison haling another ‘outstanding’ Championship display from the striker.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury issues are ongoing. Neal Maupay is out of favour. And Everton’s summer budget is likely to be impeded by Financial Fair Play concerns. So, could next season be the year in which two of the club’s up-and-comers get their chance?

Ellis Simms was a big hit on loan at Sunderland in the first half of the campaign. And while opportunities have been limited since returning to Goodison Park, few centre-forwards have made Kalidou Koulibaly look quite so leaden footed in recent years, Simms scoring a brilliant late equaliser at Chelsea.

Cannon, meanwhile, has four goals and an assist in his last six starts for Preston.

“TC, when you give him a chance, you know it’s going to be a goal,” Lilywhites team-mate Ben Whiteman said following another stylishly-taken finish during Saturday’s 3-1 Lancashire derby victory over Blackpool at Deepdale.

“He was outstanding and thoroughly deserved his goal.”

Everton striker Tom Cannon is thriving on loan at Preston North End

A prolific scorer at youth level; Cannon had started to force his way into Frank Lampard’s thinking before Dyche’s arrival at the start of February. The 20-year-old’s excellence out on loan means he will return to Everton a far more mature, more well-rounded footballer.

“He has really impressed me,” former Crystal Palace poacher Morrison tells ITV’s English Football Highlights Show. “He’s been outstanding. This goal (against Blackpool) is brilliant.

“(The ball) gets stuck under his feet but he knows what he wants to do. He bends it into that far corner. Fantastic finisher.

“He’s doing the business for Ryan Lowe at the moment.”

The Merseyside-born Cannon has also forced his way into the Republic of Ireland’s U21 set-up recently. He scored on his debut for the age group during the March international break vs Iceland.