Ronald Koeman believes new signing Ademola Lookman is already closing in on his first-team debut Everton.
The 19-year-old, who arrived from League One outfit Charlton Athletic late last week, initially began training with the Toffees academy, but impressed so much that he was immediately called up to train with the first-team.
The teenager was expected to make the step-up to the senior side with Yannick Bolasie unavailable for the rest of the season, although it could happen quicker than expected.
Koeman told the Liverpool Echo: “Mentally, he likes to improve and watch clips of his performances. I think they are all good signals from a young player who knows he is just starting.
“We will support and will help him improve. That’s really important. He wants to train and he wants to play.”
Lookman got his first taste of Goodison Park when he walked around the stadium ahead of the club’s 2-1 FA Cup defeat to league champions Leicester City at the weekend.
It has been a tricky time for the Toffees as they’ve struggled to regain the early season form that saw them lose just two of their opening 10 Premier League games. Since then, they have lost four of their last 10, although they remain seventh in the table.
The former Southampton boss added: “Ademola has good experience and everybody knows that at that level – Championship and League One – the football is more physical than the Premier League. Now he will get more experience at a higher level, which will be good for the boy.
“I spoke to the boy and he knows what we want, how he needs to train and play and his behaviour. He’s only 19 and we know it’s difficult for young players to come into the first team at the level of the Premier League, but he’s the type who we believe can make the step as soon as possible.”
Lookman made 45 senior appearances for the Addicks before moving to the Toffees as one of the biggest signings of the transfer window
so far.
He could possibly make his debut for the Merseyside outfit at the weekend as they hosts a Manchester City side, managed by Pep Guardiola who played alongside Koeman at Barcelona under the late Dutch legend Johan Cruyff.
COMMENTS