It seems the Everton first-team are set to lose a goalkeeper that they never seemed to have any long-term plans with. Jonas Lossl is all set to return to Denmark and join his boyhood club FC Midtjylland.

However, the same cannot be said for the young goalkeeper Everton lost last summer.

Dan Rose’s departure for Schalke stung.

The talented young Irishman was offered terms at Everton but decided he was best served turning a chance to learn at Finch Farm down in order to follow in the footsteps of Jadon Sancho and give German football a crack.

For Everton, it was a major disappointment. The Irish youth international was highly rated at the club and there was every chance he might have been pressing for a place in David Unsworth’s under-23 squad by the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Unfortunately for Rose, despite an impressive start to life in Gelsenkirchen, he now finds his playing time on hold.

Rose played three of Schalke under-19s opening four games of the A-Junioren Bundesliga West campaign, losing just once in a derby thriller, 3-2 against Borussia Dortmund. He also played the full 90 minutes as his side advanced in the German youth cup at the expense of Magdeburg.

Republic of Ireland v Czech Republic - U15 International Friendly
Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images

However, that level of youth football in Germany has now been placed on pause due to the second wave of Covid-19 in Germany.

Rose, like all of his team-mates and opponents in this age group are currently waiting a chance to get back into action. However, with nine games already having been suspended, Rose and Schalke will be lucky if the season kicks off again.

At Everton, Rose may have been pushing the likes of Joao Virginia and Harry Tyrer for a place in the under-23s. Failing that, he would have undoubtedly been a presence in the Everton under-18s who, until recently, had seen their season barely disrupted.

Hopefully, this delay in competitive action will not hinder Rose’s progression too much going forward. Whilst it is a shame he decided that his future was best served away from Everton, no fan will begrudge Rose any future success in Germany.

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