OPINION
Marco Silva is surely the right man to lead Everton forward as he hasn’t shied away from trusting young players this season.
The Toffees manager has regularly been under-pressure this season when results haven’t gone his way, but it’s worth noting he has actually used young players unlike some of his club’s Premier League rivals.
John Motson when remarking on Chelsea on Tuesday shared that something needs to change regarding young players, highlighting the lack of game time Callum Hudson-Odi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek get.
The legendary commentator proceeded to use Calvert-Lewin as a shining example of a young player being given a chance and it just reflected well on Silva.
“Well there’s something got to happen with young players hasn’t it? Hudson-Odoi..Loftus-Cheek,” said Motson on talkSPORT (Tuesday March 12th 14:38).
“Y’know the more you see them given a chance…I mean look at Calvert-Lewin, he scored a good goal on Saturday, I mean there are young footballers who come through the U-20s, U-19s and they haven’t been given the game time as you call it.”
While some may argue that Everton’s lack of options upfront have given Silva no choice but to trust Calvert-Lewin, it’s still has been bold of him to have the 21-year-old lead his line on a regular basis.
Chelsea haven’t exactly had plenty of in-form players to choose from, yet Hudson-Odi and Loftus-Cheek still haven’t been giving many opportunities.
Calvert-Lewin has scored eight goals in 31 outings this season and does seem to be improving from the experiencing he is gaining.
The attacker still needs to be more clinical in front of goal but it’s hard to deny that the forward is leaps and bounds ahead of where he was in regards to his progress last season.
Calvert-Lewin may have featured on a semi-regular basis last season but in his current campaign under Silva, the manager seems to not only play him but give him a big role to do.
Silva has also used players like 20-year-old Tom Davies and 21-year-old Jonjoe Kenny in games and they will only be better for it.
While Toffees supporters may want instant success, having a manger in place who is not afraid to use young talent will only serve the club well and help more it forward over the next few seasons.