Everton manager David Moyes has all but guaranteed safety, ensuring the club will play Premier League football at their new Bramley Moore Stadium next season.
For a time earlier this season, it looked as though the Merseyside outfit could suffer relegation to the Championship, but Moyes has worked his magic, proving there is life in the old dog still.
The next step is moving up the Premier League table and with some investment this summer, there is no reason why the Toffees can’t secure a top-half finish next term. Might a European place even be on the horizon too?
There are the makings of a fine squad at Goodison, no doubt about that, but Moyes should be taking a look at the youth academy at the club in order to perhaps save Everton some money in the transfer window.
During his first spell, the likes of Wayne Rooney, Jack Rodwell and Leon Osman emerged as excellent young talents, with two making the club a significant profit in the process.
It was someone else who broke onto the scene during Moyes’ first spell who could have become an Everton icon had things worked out differently, however.
Sometimes, players don’t quite live up to their early promise and this was the case for James Vaughan, who made his senior bow for the Toffees aged just 16 back in 2005.
When James Vaughan was the next big thing
Vaughan emerged through the Everton academy as a player who could follow in the footsteps of Rooney. He had everything required to make it at the highest level, no doubt about that.
When Everton played Crystal Palace towards the end of the 2004/05 campaign, Vaughan came off the bench with just 15 minutes remaining, making his debut in the process.
With the three points already wrapped up, the youngster scored with just three minutes to go, becoming the youngest ever goal scorer in the Premier League, aged just 16 years and 271 days.
Alan Irving, Vaughan’s assistant manager, praised the player after the game, saying: “It was a fantastic day for him. People will make comparisons with Wayne Rooney but they are different players. It was terrific for him just to get on so to score made it a dream debut.”
It looked like Vaughan was going to be the next thing out of the Everton academy. Their next Rooney, who could dazzle for a season or two before being sold for a major profit.
Club
Games
Goals
Huddersfield Town
95
33
Everton
61
9
Tranmere Rovers
46
25
Bury
40
24
Wigan Athletic
39
6
Crystal Palace
30
9
Sunderland
27
2
Bradford
27
10
Birmingham
17
0
Portsmouth
11
0
Leicester
8
1
Norwich
6
0
Derby
2
0
Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out that way for the teenager. He made 14 appearances during the 2006/07 season in the top flight, scoring four goals, but he would go on to score just two more Premier League goals for the club after that campaign.
Plagued by injuries during his spell, he managed only 60 games for the club, with just nine of them in the starting XI. The striker signed for Norwich City in 2011, but things didn’t work out, and he spent time at Huddersfield, scoring 33 goals in 95 matches.
After leaving the club, Vaughan endured somewhat of a nomadic career, turning out for eight clubs, but he couldn’t replicate the form he showed for Huddersfield and retired in 2021.
He is now working as a scout for the club he made his senior bow with, earmarking the future generation.
As for the present day, George Morgan is someone who has shown plenty of talent during his time at Finch Farm recently. Could he be the next Vaughan for Moyes? Albeit with more luck on the injury front?
Everton could have their next superstar brewing
The 18-year-old began making waves during the 2023/24 season for Everton U18s, scoring two goals in seven U18 Premier League matches, while finding the back of the net once in two FA Youth Cup appearances.
In October 2023, he was named as one of the 20 best youngsters in the Premier League by the Guardian, with journalist Andy Hunter saying Morgan was ‘a powerful, fast centre-forward with an eye for goal’, before stating that the teenager based his game ‘on Robert Lewandowski’ which could stand him in good stead over the next few years.
After this impressive season, Morgan signed his first professional contract with Everton in the summer of 2024, stating at the time:
“It means a lot because it’s something I’ve been working towards since joining the club,” said Morgan once the deal was signed. Being here so long, it’s great playing with your mates and improving. There’s a real togetherness and it’s like a big family.”
It could turn out to be a wise move tying the 18-year-old down to a professional deal, as he could certainly make an impression in the first team.
Across the 2024/25 campaign so far, Morgan has scored nine goals in 19 appearances in three different competitions – the FA Youth Cup, U18s Premier League and the Premier League 2 – proving he can make the step-up if required.
Despite being born in Milton Keynes, Morgan has chosen to represent Wales at international level, following in the footsteps of his dad, Craig Morgan.
He has featured for the U19s in four matches thus far, scoring against Italy during a 3-3 draw last year, and if he maintains his current form in the youth setup, the U21s will be his next port of call.
In The Pipeline
Moyes has tremendous talent at his fingertips, no doubt about that. The main thing for the manager now is to make sure he doesn’t peak too soon.
Vaughan was hampered by injuries during his spell at Everton. If Morgan can get a chance before the end of the season under the Scot, he could showcase his talents ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The next few months could be exciting indeed for the teenage sensation.
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