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2 October 2018
Tom Davies, the Everton’s gem
Everton’s academy has produced a number of great talents over the last years like Wayne Rooney or Ross Barkley. Another player who came through the Toffees’ youth system is currently making the headlines : the Maurice Revello Tournament 2018 winner Tom Davies.
64 Premier League games played, a number of appearances made on the continental scene, a regular member of the England youth teams. At only 20. Given this flattering CV, we understand why Tom Davies is rated as one of the best young talents in UK.
A reputation earned thanks to the performances made with his childhood club : Everton. Davies has followed in the footsteps of his uncle Alan Whittle. Like his predecessor, the English midfielder has quickly joined the academy of the Liverpool-based club. Like his uncle, he made his Premier League debut at 17, on 16th April 2016, during a clash between the Toffees and Southampton (1-1).
The beginning of an astonishing rise marked by a key game played on 15th January 2017. That day, Everton outclassed the Manchester City of Silva, De Bruyne and Yaya Touré : a 4-0 win clinched notably thanks to a fantastic display produced by Davies, who netted a stunner. "He made superstars in that Man City midfield look very, very average. For 18 years old, he was just superb", said the legend Alan Shearer after the game.
A real turning point in the Davies’ career as the Everton starlet established himself as a regular starter during the rest of the 2016-2017 season.
The 2017-2018 campaign has been the opportunity for Davies to cement his place in the starting XI as he played 33 league games. And this, despite the appointment of a new coach during the season. If Davies lived a frustrating campaign on the collective plan (Everton finished 8th), he consoled himself with the Maurice Revello Tournament 2018 won with England.
L'Angleterre remporte le Tournoi Maurice 2018 pour la troisiéme fois d'affilée ! ???@England clinch the @TournoiToulon title for the third time in a row ! ??? pic.twitter.com/X5yN4tXYv5
— Toulon Tournament (@TournoiToulon) 9 juin 2018
Buoyed by this success, Davies took on a new dimension since the start of the current season. On 23rd September, Davies became the Everton youngest ever captain in the Premier League era as he has been handed the captain armband by his coach Marco Silva for the game against Arsenal (0-2) despite the presence of a lot of experienced players (Pickford, Gueye, Sigurðsson) in the squad.
“It gives me a bit of a lift really. Just going into the game I felt that I really needed to bring more and had to step up with being captain”, said the Everton youngster.
Even if he has to show more consistency in his performances, Davies seems to have the potential to become the Everton’s talisman in the future.
Amayes Brahmi
