A few Everton fans have been demanding immediate change from first-team manager Carlo Ancelotti, after the club shared that Morgan Feeney had scored for our Under 23s in a 1-1 draw with Southampton.
David Unsworth’s young Toffees side travelled to face their counterparts from the Saints at Staplewood on Monday evening in front of a crowd of 106 supporters, in what was our U23s first game since December 20.
We could not bounce back from defeat to FC Porto in the PL International Cup with a win, though, as the Saints opened the scoring in the 65th-minute through Lucas Defise.
Feeney pulled the score level in the 67th-minute to keep the game close, though, by poking the ball home after the hosts’ failed to clear the danger caused by Ellis Simms’ cross.
Bootle-born Feeney had spurned a strong chance to break the deadlock in the first-half when he clipped the top of the crossbar with a header, while playing a key role defensively to clear the ball after Harry Tyrer denied Enzo Robise.
U23s captain Feeney had also produced an important block to deny Callum Slattery at a corner and later blocked a Robise cross in the second half, though his connection sent the ball to Defise to score.
Is Feeney ready for first-team football?
Yes
No
Our former England youth international, uncapped at U20 level, made his senior Everton debut against Atalanta BC in the Europa League in November 2017, but remains without further first-team appearances since starting at Apollon Limassol later that year.
Some fans have now been urging first-team boss Ancelotti to make immediate changes to his line-up and introduce more youth talent, such as centre-back Feeney who led Unsworth’s side to the youth double in 2018/19.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to the club’s post announcing Feeney’s goal…
Put him in the squad on Saturday then
— Patrick Doyle (@paddydoyle20) January 7, 2020
It’s about time you put some trust in our under 23s
— John Tully NSNO (@JohnTul49872059) January 6, 2020
Please start playing some of these youngsters they can’t do any worse than the ‘experianced’ pros letting us down week in week out.
— michelle proffitt (@michmosh85) January 6, 2020
About time @Morgan_Feeney13 was included in the first team squad
— Janis (@barneycooly) January 6, 2020
Start him Saturday
— EFCRYO (@EFC_RYO) January 6, 2020
Start these lads instead of some of the so-called senior players
— 🇮🇹 Tom (@CarIoMagnifico) January 6, 2020
In other Everton news, Ancelotti is reportedly ready to cash in on a 74-cap international.