Everton FC youngster Francisco Junior in action at Morecambe..
ONE pre-season doesn’t make a career.
Evertonians who can recall the cautionary tale of Alex Nyarko will be acutely aware of the perils of making snap summer judgements.
An apparent cross between Patrick Vieira and Ya Ya Toure, the Ghanaian midfielder sparkled in the pre-season of 2000. Two goals at Exeter, another at Plymouth, followed by an exquisite back-heeled goal against Manchester City left Blues fans licking their lips in anticipation.
He scored another sublime strike at Tottenham Hotspur in his second Premier League match…then vanished.
GALLERY: Motherwell 1 Everton 1: Shane Duffy scores as Steven Naismith gets first run out (pics: David Lamb)
Then there was Slaven Bilic. After an assured debut display against Crystal Palace (Everton still lost 2-1) one over enthusiastic supporter swiftly penned a glowing tribute to the pages of the splendid fanzine When Skies Are Grey, instantly inserting Bilic into his all-time Everton XI, as witnessed by his youthful eyes.
Bilic quickly became more Barmy Balkan than Classy Croatian.
Which is why no-one will place the burden of too much expectation on the shoulders of young Francisco Santos Da Silva Junior.
A promising midfielder snapped up on a free transfer last season after Manch-ester City decided he wouldn’t slot into their multi-million pound midfield, Junior has quietly impressed on his first outings in Royal Blue.
Still only 20, low self esteem does not appear to be a problem.
He uses the name of a player who won 74 caps for a legendary Brazil team, wears shocking pink boots and is totally unafraid of possession of a football.
For those who witnessed his, let’s be fair, mistimed challenge at Tannadice on Thursday, he doesn’t shy away from a tackle either. And he’s unselfish, too.
Played clean through on goal by a superb Marouane Fellaini pass at Fir Park on Saturday he drew substitute goalkeeper Lee Hollis and might have scored himself, but opted to slide the ball square to the only slightly less-pink booted Jack Rodwell.
By this time a defender had got back on the line to cover – and Rodwell guided his careful sidefooted shot straight at him.
But Junior did enough in 45 minutes to confirm the promise shown in previous run-outs at Dundee United and Morecambe.
David Moyes, who shrugged and curled his lip when discussing many aspects of Everton’s performance in a 1-1 draw, became more animated talking about the Portuguese.
And there were plenty of other positives to discuss.
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