Henen happy to sign for Everton

Just friggin' sign him – and, for God’s sake, please don’t loan him!!

’Investment in youth’, and ’giving youth a chance’ I think they call it, Mr. Martinez.

Also, a few weeks ago, I watched a long distance camera shot of a big guy picking up the ball towards the right wing, dribbled and bounced his way past three or four defenders before smashing it into the net. "Holy Smoke", I thought, "Who on earth is that?".

It turned out to be Henen.

The one who you just knew even as a 16-year-old kid just looked simply freakishly out of this world was Wayne Rooney. Strength, great first touch, could smash a ball like a missile and he could dribble past men who were seasoned pros... all at 16/17 years old!!

Henen may develop into a really decent little footballer but let’s leave all of the superstar superlatives to Roberto for now.

I go back again to Rooney; apart from his physique at 16, the other obvious thing that stood him out from young players nowadays was the sheer hatred of losing even the ball and the "nasty streak" he had in him.

That’s something you don’t see in enough younger lads now coming through; too often, they're more concerned with their hairstyle or patting themselves on the back for the odd great goal or nutmeg, totally oblivious to the fact that his team has lost.

In Osman’s book, he points this factor out about why Jack Rodwell may have fallen by the wayside; perhaps it didn’t hurt him enough to be on a losing team, so long as the manager gave him a pat on the back with a "well done lad".

For me, it will define how good a young player is by how much fire and hunger to actually be a success he has inside him – not the odd fancy bit of footwork... like a Barkley, for example.

As for Henen. We just don’t know. You don’t have to be local to hate losing. Let’s hope he continues to improve and eventually makes the grade. Harry Kane made it after six loan periods because he had the natural hunger and determination you referred to. He was also in the right place at the right time. Not many managers are brave enough to give youngsters chance so we’ll just have to wait and see.

That’s why our younger players don’t make the big time very often. All our good young players are not English: Hennen, Lukaku, Galloway, Besic, McCarthy, Coleman. Only Ross and Stones have what it takes and the jury is out for me on Ross.

The jury still out regarding Ross for me too, 4 years in August since his debut and 22 years old in December, still young but needs a really impressive season.

Helen & Jim, I’d echo the Barkley comments too, and then some. I’d go so far as to flog him to the highest bidder ASAP.

It’s always the local boy who gets the stick, I go back to Jimmy Harris and Derek Temple they took some stick but in the end they proved they could their stuff.

In Derek's case, he scored the cup winner in ’66... Sorry, it’s my age; I'm getting carried away, still COYB

If Henen does want to stay, then thats a good start. Evidently he has talent and the club seem to think he’s got what it takes. I’d like to see if the lad can make it.