Everton v Norwich City

He was supposed to be next big thing when we signed him; he is now 17 yet I noticed the other week he was only on the bench for our Under-18s.

Surely a really good prospect at that age would be pushing for a place on our bench; if not, he would surely be in the Under-21 team.

Norwich City Under-18s coach Neil Adams pits his wits against one of his former Everton team-mates in tonight’s FA Youth Cup quarter-final at Goodison Park (7pm).

The Toffees’ academy side is coached by former Republic of Ireland international Kevin Sheedy, with whom fellow winger Adams spent three years on Merseyside.

“We were team-mates during some very good times at Everton in that championship-winning side of 1987,” he recalled.

“He is a good friend of mine. He was diagnosed with cancer last year but is now hopefully in remission. We’ve kept in touch, I’ve seen him through coaching this season and he’s a good lad – but we’ll be looking to put one over each other.”

Everton have a head start, having already registered 4-2 and 3-0 wins over the Canaries in the FA Premier Academy League this season. They knocked out Arsenal to reach the last eight.

“Everton are a good side. We’ve played them twice this year and they were better than us on both occasions,” said Adams.

“They are strong from one to 11 but we have done our homework on them and we are a good side too and they know that when we play well, they will have cause to worry about us.

“It will be two good sides who like to play football.

“We have been in very good form since the turn of the year and had a brilliant win at Newcastle on Saturday.”

There is an added bonus for tonight’s winners, who will visit Nottingham Forest in the semi-final first leg next Wednesday, in that ITV4 will have live coverage of both legs of the semis.

“It’s fantastic that these games will get a national audience and good that the TV companies are showing an interest,” said Adams. “That’s another incentive for these lads – they can all be TV stars.

“We regard the FA Youth Cup as our biggest games of the season. We know from playing at Carrow Road, even if there are not many in the ground, it’s a big occasion and there will be nerves and apprehension. Some nerves are a good thing, a bit of a flutter in the belly, but the key is not to let it affect our performance.

“They’re really looking forward to it. It will be the biggest game most of them have ever played but we’ve prepared well and they’re looking sharp and lively.

“We have a full squad to pick from. Harry Barker has played two or three games now and has recovered from his broken foot.”

Much of the attention has been on City’s 18-year-old Murphy twins, Josh and Jacob, who have played for England Under-18s and Under-19s this season and been awarded professional contracts to 2015.

“They deserve all the plaudits that have come their way, and their contracts, and the rest of the team are pleased for them. There is no animosity or jealousy,” said Adams.

Everton U18s: Springthorpe; Pennington, Touray, Kenny, Langton; Molyneux (c), Kennedy, Charsley; Waring, Long, Grant.

Subs: Griffiths, Johns, Jones, Duffus, Ledson.

Go on the Everton site and look at how he turns in the box and shoots clipping the post in the Under 18s game against villa a few weeks ago, and when you see him live, the way he keeps the ball and goes past players is mind blowing.

I think they need to start playing him in the reserves next season to bring him on more, it’s like a kid who’s way ahead of others in his class he needs to move to higher education to move forward and it’s the same with this lad.

Or maybe they are holding him back because of the further fees they need to pay Bradford if he makes more appearances, but I really like the look of this kid, he is small but so is Messi.