Duffus challenged to earn a new deal

Though at 21 years old, it's probably unlikely that he'll get a look in with Calvert-Lewin & Lookman younger and ahead of him in the pecking order. If we give him a new deal & he heads out on loan to a League One or Championship club we could get a decent fee for him, as the club grows under Moshiri & Koeman this will happen more and more; similar to how Chelsea et al operate.

Though if he gets his chance and starts banging them in – it's a win-win!

Obviously Unsy holds him in high regard and he's just come back from injury (what is it about put academy and injuries?). So it's a case of over to you Mr Duffus

Duffus spent part of the 2015-16 campaign on loan at Evo-Stik League Northern Premier outfit Skelmersdale United, before signing fresh terms with the Toffees in the summer of 2016.

Duffus is in a bit of a strange situation. At 21 and only having the experience of 3 league games at Bury a couple of years ago on loan, you would think the club wouldn't be renewing his contract. But there was a bid for him a couple of weeks back from Brighton, who will be in the Premier League next season, so he obviously is highly rated.

Also, putting things into perspective, Lukaku is only 2 years older than him, and we just signed two 19-year-olds into the first team picture. I would imagine the club may give him a one year contract and send him out to a Championship team for a season to give him that experience.

I'd think the younger Antony Evans and (on the evidence of a recent U23s game) Bassala Sambou are better prospects now. Even Delial Brewster could come back blazing from his loan spell.

If Duffus stays, he runs a great risk of being then next McAleny – starting a proper career in football in his mid-twenties. Shame because he comes across as a good lad but such is the way in football with injuries and the reason we have so many youngsters on the books.

"We will never give up on you", shows how well the club is being run for the players who are just below the first-team squad.

Unsworth seems to have a great rapport with all the young kids at the club, which is heart-warming to see because it's what every young kid needs when he's trying to break through in football.

His lay off play is good now he needs to get some doubles in the last 6 games left. Big ask but I hope he gets another crack next season with Unsworth's team.

You're probably right but we seem to be forever told that going out on loan is good for the players improvement.

Time at a club near the lead of the Championship would be a great opportunity but if he is out of contract at the seasons end could he have signed a pre-contractual agreement with the fee set by a tribunal as he is a junior player?

Perhaps Brighton did not want a loan arrangement or guarantee playing time. The only sure thing is that I'm not sure about any of it.

Browning is playing full games every week at Preston. They're not far off the play-offs as far as I know. It would make your point about being on loan at a Championship club a good one.