Brendan Galloway has been “top class” since arriving at Everton FC, says under-21s coach David Unsworth.
Everton won the race for the 18-year-old’s signature last summer when he joined from MK Dons on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Hopes are high that Galloway, an England under-19 international, will emerge as first-team defender of the future at Goodison Park and Unsworth says he is well on course to meet those expectations.
Galloway is ready to return to the side for Monday night’s u-21s clash at home to Fulham after missing out the last two games through illness.
And Unsworth is delighted to have the Zimbabwe-born teenager back in the side for the Premier League u-18 clash in Southport.
“Brendan Is fine now,” confirmed Unsworth.
“He had an illness but is back in training.
“We have been delighted with him, he has been terrific and he is a terrific young man who is desperate to be a footballer.
“His talent is there for all to see and he has application every single day in training.
“We think a lot of him, if we didn’t then we would not have brought him to the football club.
“Character and personality is something we look at deeply. It is not just the ability of the player but we look to see if they have the right character to come into the squad.
“This is a talented group so you have to hold your own in that respect but they are also a settled squad and you have to settle in straight away. He has done that.”
Blue Christmas as Everton FC under 21 players along with their coach David Unsworth drop into the Pitz Soccer centre Liverpool. They called into surprise volunteer Lee Johnson who does coaching sessions for people at the Whitechapel Centre who had a ten minute match against the Under 21 lads. Brendan Galloway pictured with David Henen.
Unsworth added: “His performances have been top class. We are really, really happy with him.
“It is still early days, he is still a young man and he is learning all the time.
“Brendan has had massive exposure to the first-team, training with them and being around the manager, his staff and the players.
“He is someone we brought in for the long-term.”
Everton are sixth in the table but just three points separate the top six sides and the Blues have a game in hand over a number of the teams above them.
But Unsworth says his side will have their work cut out on Monday night at the Merseyrail Community Stadium if they are to close the gap on the leaders.
“Fulham have a strong academy and a strong under-21s set-up,” said Unsworth.
“And over the last couple of years they have been incredible. They’ve had a lot of success with the young players.
“So it will be a tough game, they have a lot of talent. I have watched their last couple of games and they are a threat so we are going to have to be at our best to get the result.
“But having said that, I’m sure they have done their homework and are expecting exactly the same from us.”
Blue Christmas as Everton FC under 21 players along with their coach David Unsworth drop into the Pitz Soccer centre Liverpool. They called into surprise volunteer Lee Johnson who does coaching sessions for people at the Whitechapel Centre who had a ten minute match against the Under 21 lads. Brendan Galloway pictured.
Unsworth will have a different squad of players to the one he had for their game with West Ham last week.
Conor McAleny, among others, have travelled with the first-team squad to Qatar for the Blues warm weather training camp.
“It is fantastic because it is a good opportunity for them,” said Unsworth.
“They go away and a couple of others slot in. That is the beauty of the squad we have – there is a pool of talent to pick from.”
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