On-loan Everton teenager scores stunner on his EFL senior debut

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Everton’s youth production, historically, has been exemplary.

Over the last few decades they have produced some of the country’s finest talents, including one of the greatest English players of all time, Wayne Rooney.

However, of late, that production line has regressed somewhat, with the youth academy having been relegated to nothing more than a money-making scheme.

That is the cost that PSR has enacted on so many Premier League clubs, and so Anthony Gordon, Tom Cannon, Ellis Simms and more have all been sacrificed to keep the club afloat.

However, with the Toffees finally on a path towards greater sustainability at last, perhaps the latest crop of youngsters might now have a chance at a path into the first team.

Roman Dixon has already paved the way this season at right-back, whilst a new offensive star could have been born whilst out on loan…

Francis Okoronkwo scores for Salford City on loan from Everton

Their inability to find suitable loans for their youngsters has also been a huge criticism of many fans in recent years as well, often palming these promising talents off to unfit clubs, stunting their progress and eventually seeing their careers flicker out.

There are so many examples, but the hope is that such a sad outcome will not occur with Francis Okoronkwo.

After all, shipped out on loan to Salford City with the summer window winding down, many might have assumed that this was a panic decision made at the eleventh hour.

However, already this deal is bearing fruit, with the 19-year-old marksman having now bagged on his debut for Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville’s club.

Picking up the ball halfway into the opponent’s half, he controlled a fizzed pass well and drove forward into the space.

As defenders backed off the nimble attacker, she shaped to shoot with his right before chopping back onto his left, leaving another centre-back dumbfounded.

Through on goal and with a goalkeeper rushing onto him, he calmly slotted into the bottom corner with his left foot, with the Sky Sports commentator exclaiming: ‘It’s a lovely goal! What a moment on his senior debut, and a way to announce yourself at your new club. The Everton loanee arrives at Salford City with a bang.’

Who is Everton starlet Francis Okoronkwo?

Signed from Sunderland in 2021 for £1m, this marked a huge investment in such a young striker, but already the promise is starting to emerge.

After all, a first goal in a first senior appearance is no mean feat, and comes after Okoronkwo signed a new Everton deal late last year.

A huge show of faith during a real period of turmoil, last season he recorded six goal contributions in just 11 Premier League 2 matches, building on a fine campaign where he scored eight and assisted six the year prior across all competitions.

Few are expecting him to uphold this form, but a strong loan in Salford could provide the foundation for him to return to Merseyside ready to challenge for a first-team spot.