Dowell bags a hat-trick in U21s win

, 25 April, 55comments  |  Jump to most recent
Kieran Dowell continues to knock on the door of Everton's first team with his head-turning performances in David Unsworth's Under-21s side.

The young midfielder has been in sparkling form recently and enhanced his reputation further this evening by scoring all three of the Blues' goals against Leicester City U21s at Goodison Park.

Dowell set Everton on their way as early as the ninth minute when he brilliantly chipped the goalkeeper and then doubled the lead in the 26th minute when he finished off a counter-attack by slotting home.

The visitors halved the deficit on the stroke of half time when Michael Cain scored but Dowell curled home another beauty with 13 minutes left to seal the win and his hat-trick.

To date Dowell has made just one appearance for the senior side, that in December 2014 in the dead rubber against FK Krasnodar in the Europa League when he came on a second-half substitute.

Since then he has continued his impressive development in the U21s and many expected to see him included in the squad for the match against Southampton the week before last when team-mates Tom Davies and Callum Connolly were handed their debuts off the bench.



Roberto Martinez was in attendance for this evening's win over the Foxes' second string but it remains to be seen if he has seen enough to promote Dowell to the first team for any of the four remaining Premier League games.

Everton: Hewelt, Hibbert (Dyson 65'), Foulds (Holgate 72'), Davies, Pennington, Connolly, Jones, Williams {c}, Evans (Baningime 79'), Dowell, Charsley
Subs not used: Gray, Feeney

 

Reader Comments (55)

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Jack Plant
1 Posted 25/04/2016 at 23:09:40
A nice hat-trick for Dowell today; hopefully if Unsworth is in charge by the weekend, he'll get a runout.
Tony Hill
2 Posted 25/04/2016 at 23:18:47
He's going to be wonderful for us if he gets luck and proper coaching. There are real reasons for hope in the youth teams amid the present gloom.
Mark Riding
3 Posted 25/04/2016 at 23:26:59
Another young prospect to join the first team soon. Roberto always gives youth a chance, unlike Moyes ever did, apart from when his hand was forced by a one off talent that was Rooney.

The thought of Dowell linking up with Rom, Ross, Del, Stones, Galloway, Robles next season is what makes next season already exciting.

Keith Harrison
5 Posted 25/04/2016 at 23:32:47
Sounds quite a talent that lad. Why wasn't he on the bench on Saturday?
Rob Halligan
6 Posted 25/04/2016 at 23:33:57
If Martinez stays, then the likes of Dowell, Galloway, Connolly, Davies, Browning, Ledson and Garbutt must be first team regulars, along with those mentioned by mark #2.

I agree, exciting times.

Joe O'Brien
7 Posted 25/04/2016 at 23:36:28
The thought of Martinez managing him frightens me more than excites me Mark. He will take his flare and general enthusiasm for the game and change it to dead pedestrian football and wonder 'what the hell are we playing here'. I hope he gets a run out for the final games. Great prospect. Well done Keiran mate.
Andrew James
8 Posted 25/04/2016 at 23:39:12
Mark @ 2

Moyes never gave youth a chance?

Vaughan, Anichebe, Gosling, Rodwell, Chadwick.

Remind me of the glittering careers they've all had?

He did have his favourites but I don't think Martinez has exactly promoted youth when playing Kone rather than bringing through our younger players.

Steven Sturm
9 Posted 25/04/2016 at 23:40:24
Now is the time to give him some games. Get some first team experience before the season ends and build on it during the summer. Playing some of the youth would make it interesting these last few games for the fans as well given there's not much left to play for..
David Hallwood
10 Posted 25/04/2016 at 23:46:53
Agree with Steven(#8) put the kids on the bench on Saturday... it's a dead rubber and it'll give the fans something to cheer
Anthony Dwyer
11 Posted 25/04/2016 at 23:49:36
This kid has been kicking his heals, wasted in the under 21s for months.

The league season has been over since January after an awful Christmas period, the likes of Dowell, Galloway, Connerly, Davies, and Pennington should have all been in and around the first team gaining invaluable experience.

Martinez is a joke, he's tried to blag everyone who cared to listen that our season was still alive, but no one apart from Kenwright has taken him seriously.

I can't stand the red shite, but look at the teams Klopp has put out in recent weeks, check his side vs Bournemouth for example, he's given everyone a fair chance and he will unearth some diamonds for the future as a result.

All this shite about Martinez gives youth a chance is as much a myth as the one that he plays expansive football. He's a legend in his own mind and talks that much shite that people almost can't help but repeat it.

Stones and Barkley were put into the side because they are a lot better than the older players.

Galloway was put into the side because Baines and Oviedo were both injured so who else could play.

Robles isn't that young, and was held back for much longer than he ever should have been.

Connerly and Davies were used recently because Martinez knew it would get him a small amount of positive press. Were was they for the derby?

Del Boy is very talented, and 22 years of age, yet is still not in the side because he's allowed to walk around all season no were near fit enough.

Mo Besic is Martinez last choice.

Dowell has been inform most of the season, yet Martinez has used a half fit Cleverly at times, a never fit Gibson, and two fossils in Pienaar and Osman over him.

Brewster has banged goals for the younger sides yet he's not had a mention dispite the fact we have no back up for Rom.

Martinez doesn't give youth a chance at all.

Anthony Dwyer
12 Posted 25/04/2016 at 23:56:14
Mark 2,

Can't help but agree with Andrew 7.

Add Velious, Coleman, Hibbert, Jose Batter, Shane Duffy, Maggy Gueye (20), Barkley (not used as much as we would have liked).

Keith Harrison
13 Posted 25/04/2016 at 23:56:46
He could have put some of the kids in for the Derby to protect those needed for Wembley. It would also have given him a reasonable excuse if we got walloped. As it turns out, he didn't and we did.

He only plays the youth when absolutely forced to. Fair enough at the start of the season, but we've been in, apart from cup games, dead rubbers the last couple of months, and some of those kids should have been involved a lot more.
Andrew James
15 Posted 25/04/2016 at 00:00:29
Anthony

Exactly, Barkley was starting to show in Moyes final months and Stones was special.

But the lack of youth time has been restricted.

The fact that Gibson, who I like as a footballer, was brought on Saturday having rarely featured says it all. United played energetic kids and won.

Martinez does not advocate youth. He just uses them when all other options are removed or one is simply too good to ignore.

Kieran Kinsella
16 Posted 26/04/2016 at 00:07:07
Martinez does not give youth a chance.
John Raftery
17 Posted 25/04/2016 at 00:14:41
I have watched Kieran Dowell's progress in the Under 21s since July 2014. He missed the first three months of this season with a bad ankle injury which held back his development. Kieran is still developing his game. He is not the finished article but he is still only 18. His left foot shooting and passing is sublime. He appears to have a good football brain, demonstrates good positional sense and moves the ball quickly and intelligently. Watching him closely tonight I would say he needs to work harder pressing opponents. That apart he is enormously talented and a player I would love to see get a taste of Premier League action before the end of the season.

Tom Davies and Callum Connolly both impressed tonight. Davies and Joe Williams worked like Trojans in central midfield while Connolly formed a solid central defensive partnership with Matt Pennington. After conceding an unfortunate deflected goal just before halftime the team needed to weather the Leicester storm in the opening stages of the second half. They did that and eventually were able to cruise their way to a comfortable victory.

Like most games at this level the match was played in a good spirit, ably refereed by a female official, J Simms.

Keith Harrison
18 Posted 26/04/2016 at 00:16:28
Rodriguez, Henen, Tarashaj. Where will it end. We'll need a crèche on the pitchside next Mark and Rob eh? Don't think so.
Gavin Johnson
19 Posted 25/04/2016 at 00:20:32
I'll give Roberto his due, he's paid more attention to the academy than Moyes ever did. I can't knock his vision for building the club for long term success and a big part of that his from the bottom up. We're reaping the rewards with our younger players. I can't remember us having such a promising group of young talent. Dowell seems to be the most exciting out of the group.

That all said, we should bring in a better manager who can execute this vision. I have no doubts Martinez has the vision. He just hasn't got the ability or flexibility to set up a team to focus for 90 minutes. I have doubts over his defensive tactics, his man management and his fitness regime. It's no good having players with such ability if you don't know how to get the best out of them in the 1st team.

I think we need a manager who will get the most out of this young talent and continue Martinez's plans for the academy and that means going Dutch, with either Ronald Koeman or Frank De Boar becoming our new boss.

Andrew James
20 Posted 26/04/2016 at 00:24:50
Errr Gavin...do you not think the academy and training facilities are the result of Moyes not Martinez? The latter is the benefactor surely?
Don Alexander
22 Posted 26/04/2016 at 00:25:44
Anthony at #10 and Andrew at #14 are, pardon me, "bob-on".

Anyone watching Rom, Ross, Del and Stones can see that Martinez is anathema to progressing young footballers.

Rom still has the touch of a lamp-post albeit his goals have been vital in keeping us up. He is idle when not in possession though, and once he announced he was destined for better things he's basically downed tools, such as they were.

Barkley now resembles, as another TW'er said last week, "a gormless child". He looks overweight and is also idle when not in possession, which increasingly occurs under our present manager (respects to Harold).

Del is the only early 20's footballer I've ever seen who is spent after 60 minutes. That in itself is not good enough.

Stones is, in terms of professionalism in a successful team, a liability. I'm no fan of Shearer as a pundit but in the derby he said what's bog-standard; "professional footballers make mistakes but professional footballers don't make the same mistake twice".........unless Martinez is the gaffer, obviously.

I hope we get a competent manager this week so that these guys lads get the leadership and coaching they and we deserve.

In that way they may decide to stay, as I would wish.

Gavin Johnson
23 Posted 26/04/2016 at 00:36:54
No, I don't see that Andrew. Moyes paid no attention to the younger players. The academy has come on leaps and bounds on since Moyes left because it's been put at the forefront of the clubs plans. Martinez always wanted an academy at Wigan and to my mind he's improved on the infrastructure that was already in place.

While Martinez has put more emphasis on youth development than his predecessor, and is more likely to blood this young talent. I don't believe he will get the most of these players because of the reasons I stated in #18.

Andrew James
24 Posted 26/04/2016 at 00:41:59
Don

We have the playing talent but they're not being coached properly.

Barkley and Lukaku both look half a stone too heavy while we have lots of lesser players not fit.

Keeping players super fit should be the minimum right?

Mick Davies
25 Posted 26/04/2016 at 01:12:12
I can't believe some of this tripe about Martinez and youngsters: we know Pennington can do a job at RB but he prefers to play a midfielder who's been out through injury in the semi. He has played Everton's record oldest (and I think it was overall oldest) team in the PL, he continued to play a totally out of form 36 year old in goal leaving a lad in his early 20's on the bench, and as Lyndon states - 'To date Dowell has made just one appearance for the senior side, that in December 2014'

I was never a big fan of Moyes and wasn't sorry to see him go but, before he'd even been here a full year, he had the guts to play a 16 year . . remember the name? who went on to be the best English player in a generation. Anyone who thinks Martinez knows anything about football must be as deluded as he is
James Watts
26 Posted 26/04/2016 at 01:18:08
Why do people think this muppet gives youth a chance? He doesn't!! He only plays them when he has too - and sometimes not even then!
Minik Hansen
27 Posted 26/04/2016 at 01:45:01
The very next Premier League young player of the year? Nil satis nisi optimum.
Ian Jones
28 Posted 26/04/2016 at 05:19:14
Sounds like a chance for the fans to sing that well known song by John Lennon 'Give youth a chance'
Alan J Thompson
29 Posted 26/04/2016 at 05:36:05
Sorry, lads, but how will Martinez fit him in as he has already said that McAleny will feature some time this season and he's fast running out of games.
Phil Walling
30 Posted 26/04/2016 at 06:49:24
Just so hope we get to havre sight of this kid before he gets shipped off to Brentford !
Peter McHugh
31 Posted 26/04/2016 at 07:06:53
Moyes had the guts to play a 16 year old...... I don't think guts came into it
Sam Hoare
32 Posted 26/04/2016 at 07:31:19
This lad has been in incredible form recently and if he doesn't get a shot in the first team then it sends a pretty poor message to the youth teams ie. It doesn't matter how well you play or how badly the first team are playing.

I'd happily see this team against Bournemouth:

Robles

Connolly Stones Pennington Baines
Davies Gibson/Barry
Deulofeu Dowell Lennon
Evans/Lukaku

Won't happen but at least it'd give us something to get interested about.

Martin Nicholls
33 Posted 26/04/2016 at 08:25:21
Martinez prefers the Niasse/Kone combo though! Incidentally no Niasse on bench at Wembley? His fitness must have deteriorated!
Paul Thompson
34 Posted 26/04/2016 at 08:28:35
Does every thread have to turn into something about Martinez? We have some great lads coming through and Dowell is the best. He's scored in the last three U21 games and at worst would be able to take corners and free kicks! The fans need a lift and playing Dowell and some of the other lads could fit the bill. Just think - who had heard of Rashford a couple of months ago?
Darren Bailey
35 Posted 26/04/2016 at 08:41:16
What are some of you talking about that Martinez gives youth a chance? Bollocks does he! As someone said above Stones, Barkley and Rom are obvious 1st teamers. Galloway was forced in to the team due to Baines and Oviedo injuries-where is he now they're both fit? Browning wasn't used as much as we hoped during Coleman's couple of niggles with him preferring Stones at right back at the start of the season which meant he decided to have his op instead. Del Boy hasn't been given game time and he's top class.
These youngsters stand no chance under Martinez with his infatuation with playing the likes of Kone, Osman, Pienaar and Gibson often out of position.
We have a great bunch of youngsters who deserve game time over these last few games. Some have deserved to be involved before now, Dowell the obvious one.
I hope with Coleman, Jags and Funes Mori out we see Connolly, Pennington and Holgate used and I'd love to see Williams and Davies involved. Dowell has to be given game time and Brewster is good shout as Rom can't be assed and Niasse is - well Niasse!
Just add this to the list of Martinez faults because it's a big one. Didn't see the point in him being at the game last night, was probably watching Hibbert to see if he can fill in.
Barry Pearce
36 Posted 26/04/2016 at 08:59:30
Agree with posts above, that Martinez only gives youth a chance when he has to.

We have some potentially some very good youngsters. The best for me is young Walsh currently on loan at Yeovil. I've been following his progress. He had been man of the match in several occasions. One blip when he got sent off. This lad has got skill pace and loves a tackle. Definitely one for the not to distant future.

Dave Abrahams
37 Posted 26/04/2016 at 09:34:12
John Rafferty (17) you are bang on with your assessment of the young players at Everton, especially Dowell who is a great talent but must work a lot harder off the ball, if he improves his work rate he can go to the top.

I think a few lads will play on Saturdayor be on the bench,it will be one way of getting the fans to go, there is little interest in the team as the season finished last Saturday.

Martin Nicholls
38 Posted 26/04/2016 at 09:49:25
John Raftery (17) - thanks for a detailed and thoughtful report. Thanks too, as ever, to Lyndon
Shane Corcoran
39 Posted 26/04/2016 at 11:44:32
Giving youth a chance is just a cliche that's thrown around by all clubs or by the media in relation to some clubs.

The richest clubs will probably throw on a few younger players at the end of the season when there's nothing to play for, everyone else will try to climb a position until it's impossible to do so, as there's big prize money at stake.

Is it not the case that a manager will pick the team based on what is likely to win him the game? If a 16 year old forward like Rooney is available then he'll be picked.

The only other reason I can see not to play a young player that's good enough, is to protect him from whatever the manager thinks he needs to be protected from e.g too many games too young, the media spotlight etc.

Anthony Dwyer
40 Posted 26/04/2016 at 12:42:16
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/04/26/video-kieran-dowells-stunning-long-range-hat-trick-for-Everton-u
Anthony Dwyer
41 Posted 26/04/2016 at 12:43:21
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/04/26/video-kieran-dowells-stunning-long-range-hat-trick-for-Everton-u/
Tony J Williams
42 Posted 26/04/2016 at 12:52:43
Three peaches there.

Every time I see a report on U21 games I hope that it's the next Rooney etc but I always have the niggling doubt that they look great against other poorer young players and that they are not as good as we all hope they will be.

Sweet left foot and fingers crossed he gets his chance and progresses.

In regards to Martinez giving youth a chance....Fuck off!

Rahul Sreekumar
43 Posted 26/04/2016 at 13:00:08
Really looking forward to seeing him feature in the coming weeks. Did well enough in pre-season. Hard luck with the injury soon after.

Sweet left foot the kid has. I fear that he would get kicked, pulled and shoved way more in the PL than the U-21s and that would need some getting used to. Once he adjusts to that, he should be a source of many goals for us.

Mark Stone
44 Posted 26/04/2016 at 13:28:24
Alan #29 not much chance of that he's playing for Wigan till the end of the season!
Alan J Thompson
46 Posted 26/04/2016 at 15:26:37
Mark(#44), that was rather the point.
Paul Kossoff
47 Posted 26/04/2016 at 16:38:08
Would Dowell have scored on Saturday? Most likely.
I have never seen a £60 million striker miss so many chances as Lukaku did at Wembley, and did we have a striker on the bench? NO.
Kristian Boyce
48 Posted 26/04/2016 at 17:07:52
To give him credit, and its been acknowledge by the youth and reserve coaches, Martinez has taken interest in the younger players. He has been a regular attendee at the u18/u21 games since coming to the club. I think Sheedy said in the whole time Moyes was here, he cant recall him coming to a youth game or was overly interested in what was going on.

Thant being said, other than the clear 1st teamers of Barkley, Lukaku and Stones, Martinez hasn't really give youth a chance. Only in extreme circumstances has he called upon young players to the side. Galloway only played as Baines and Oviedo were out, and another promising youth player was out on loan. As we have a small squad you would expect a few young players to make the bench, but again it is filled with Martinez favourites, who quite often aren't fully fit.

John Dean
49 Posted 26/04/2016 at 18:04:37
Galloway made his debut when we all expected Garbutt to play as he was the recognised left back understudy and many were calling for Garbutt to start games ahead of Baines. Garbutt hardly gets off Fulham's bench currently. I didn't think Galloway was too impressive for the U21s but Roberto knew better and it will be a pity if he's not able to see his groundwork to fruition as our U21 and U18 teams play lovely football to his blueprint.

Dowell was terrific last night and his last 4 goals have all come from strikes outside the box. He won't get that room when he moves up.

Steavey Buckley
50 Posted 26/04/2016 at 18:15:47
Galloway in my estimation was exposed cruelly to being isolated at left back when Kone was playing ahead of him. When Baines was in his pomp and prime he had Stephen Pienaar alongside of him. Although, I personally Galloway believe will eventually be an Everton centre-half once he discovers his self-belief.
Gavin Johnson
51 Posted 26/04/2016 at 18:54:22
Dowell's first goal last night was amazing. He has the ability and vision to become our No. 10 in the next couple of seasons. He reminds me a little of Le Tissier. It's probably a lazy comparison based on the number spectacular goals he seems to score. If he gets anywhere near that level, we've got a player.

Christy Ring
52 Posted 26/04/2016 at 19:12:17
Steavey 50#, Agree completely , Galloway was isolated, with Kone ahead of him, and still put in a gutsy shift. I think he's a better defender than Baines and Oviedo. Will probably end up at centre back and partner Browning.
Charlie Lloyd
53 Posted 26/04/2016 at 20:39:00
Dowell. Excellent prospect. Hope he gets a chance soon.

Galloway. Will come back in before long. Agree with the views about exposed playing with Kone.

Browning. Hope the lad returns fit. I want to be wrong about this but I don't expect him to be a fixture at CB. More of a Championship player like Shane Duffy.

Ian Tunstead
54 Posted 26/04/2016 at 21:17:15
Lots of re-writing of history here. Under Moyes, Rooney broke the record to become Evertons and the leagues youngest ever goal scorer, Under Moyes Vaughn went on to achieve the same. Under Moyes Baxter became Evertons youngest ever player or youngest ever player. Under Moyes Barkley was on the bench ready to break that record just before he broke his leg for the England youth team.

Under Moyes Rodwell became the youngest ever player to play in Europe for Everton. Under Moyes, Vaughn and Anichebe became 2 of the youngest players to score for Everton in Europe. Nearly all 17 and younger at the time. Not to mention the Goslings and Vellios and McFaddens of the world. In fact it seems in all of Evertons illustrious history, its amazing how many of these records happened under Moyes the man who didn't give youth a chance.
Ian Burns
55 Posted 26/04/2016 at 21:51:20
The left foot of Dowell's is so sweet he almost caresses the ball to the point where it is delighted Dowell hasn't knocked the wind out of it. It probably waves to him in appreciation from the back of the net!

He must be on the pitch at Goodison before the end of this season - please!

James Stewart
56 Posted 26/04/2016 at 21:57:20
Cracking finishes, at any level those aren't being saved.
Anthony Dwyer
57 Posted 27/04/2016 at 00:40:08
Spot on Ian Tunstead 54.
Dave Abrahams
58 Posted 27/04/2016 at 13:51:20
Ian (54),

Walter Smith wanted to play Rooney in the first team when Wayne was 15; he couldn't because Rooney was still at school.

James Vaughn came in when there was an injury crisis, came off the bench to score that goal. I liked him but he was unfortunate with injuries. Anichebe... well the lad never improved from when he was 18 and we were amazingly lucky to get the price we did for him.

Rodwell looked like he was going to be a very good player but injuries and not improving his game put a stop to that. Gosling looked a good signing, cost a million, was allowed to escape Goodison on a free and is only now starting to show the promise he had here. James McFadden was inconsistent; Vellios didn't seem to have the desire to be a footballer.

Ross Barkley was dropped at an early age for giving a penalty away at Blackburn; Moyes didn't appear to give him much encouragement after that.

All-in-all, any manager who had Rooney, Rodwell and Barkley would have played them at an early age, they were outstanding. Jose Baxter was given a start at 16 but was never a regular player and, at the age of 20, he was offered a 2-year contract by Moyes at half the wage he was already on.

Ian Tunstead
59 Posted 27/04/2016 at 17:24:28
Dave, the facts speak for themselves. Moyes clearly did give youth a chance weather they were outstanding or not. Most of what you say is a matter of opinion.

Clearly many of our youth couldn't cut it at the highest level even when now in their prime yet Moyes gave them the chance to prove themselves in the PL, It is a matter of opinion that any other manager would have given our youngsters the opportunity.

You only he to look at superior players in other teams that took years to break into the first team like Harry Kane and Townsend who were sent out on loan for years.

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