Everton have a rich history of developing prestigious talents from their academy.
Wayne Rooney is a notable example of that, whilst Jarrad Branthwaite currently flies that flag having developed with the under-21s following his switch from Carlisle United.
Everton fans are now becoming increasingly excited about Harrison Armstrong and Roman Dixon – two teenagers who are excelling with the reserve side.
Everton coaches expect big things from Armstrong and Dixon, so it seems there’s a genuine chance of becoming first-team regulars in the near future.
Though, they’ll need to be nurtured and managed accordingly as young players can often be rushed to the detriment of their own careers.
Perhaps that can be said for one former Everton teenager who David Moyes believed was the future of the football club. He’s now without a club aged just 33.
Jack Rodwell was once considered the future of Everton by David Moyes
Jack Rodwell was lauded as one of the brightest prospects in the Premier League when he emerged on the scene with Everton as a fresh-faced teenager.
Rodwell made his debut for David Moyes’ side aged just 16 and the then-Everton boss believed he going to become a really top player.
After netting twice against Sigma Olomouc in Europe, Moyes was even shocked at just how good the Southport prodigy was.
“I knew he had talent, but what I didn’t know was his ability to score goals like that. He strikes a great ball, but didn’t realise he could rattle the back of the net like that,” he told the Mirror in 2009.
Only a couple of years later, Rodwell made his debut for England and Fabio Capello immediately recognised what a talent he was.
“For me, the most important thing you saw this evening is the performance of Rodwell when he played,” Capello told reporters after England’s 1-0 win vs Spain.
However, despite earning glowing praise early on in his career, Rodwell never achieved his full potential and it was a move to Manchester City which seemed to stunt his development.
- READ MORE: Everton insider shares exactly when Sean Dyche will be sacked after goalless draw vs Brentford
Rodwell’s move to Man City ruined his career
Man City outlaid £12m on Rodwell in 2012 and it seemed like the natural step in his promising career, however, he made just 25 appearances for the club before being shipped to Sunderland two years later.
He left the Etihad a completely unrecognisable player from when he joined and his four-year stint in the North East was completely disastrous.
Rodwell tried to reinvent himself at Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United but without any real success and now aged 33, he’s without a club after being released by Sydney FC in July.
Another sad story of unfulfilled promise and what could have been.
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox
