Should Everton give more youngsters a chance?

With injury problems and suspensions affecting team selection, should Everton be using this situation to give more of their talented youngsters a run in the side?

After four games in the new Premier League season, Everton are still unbeaten but have only amassed six points, which is not a great return.

Twice the Blues have let leads slip and been pegged back for draws in games they could and probably should have won.

And last Saturday Everton had to come from behind themselves after conceding first against Huddersfield Town in yet another draw.

There are other concerns too. The Toffees have already had two players sent off and therefore suspended and are also dealing with a growing list of injured players. The latest possible casualty is Theo Walcott who limped off in the Huddersfield game to be replaced by Ademola Lookman.

So inevitably manager Marco Silva is going to have to rely on more of his squad than he perhaps imagined he would at the start of the campaign.

But this sort of situation is also an opportunity for some of the other young players on the fringes of Everton’s first-team to get a chance to impress.

Several have already had a run-out in the side. Centre-back Mason Holgate, midfielder Tom Davies and forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin all played last weekend against Huddersfield. And Lookman as well.

Of them Calvert-Lewin impressed the most grabbing the Toffees equaliser, adding to his growing reputation as a forward of real potential.

Given Everton’s injuries all are surely in contention to start against West Ham when the Premier League resumes in two weeks time.

There are two areas of the team that need further attention and might provide further opportunities for young players to contribute.

At right-back Seamus Coleman has been way short of his best in the recent matches. And in midfield there is a growing list of injured senior players.

Starting with Coleman, Everton do have a youngster ready to come in and replace him, Jonjoe Kenny.

Kenny impressed when he had a few limited chances last season. He is though more of a defensive full-back, strong and committed in the tackle but not nearly as purposeful and adventurous going forward as Coleman. Although that’s something he could develop in his game as he matures.

However given that fact that the Blues do have a much more dynamic attack this season, (when all the players are fit and available), there is perhaps less need for those buccaneering runs from right-back that have characterised Coleman’s play.

This is especially true if the Toffees continue to have the outlet at left-back provided by either Leighton Baines or increasingly Lucas Digne.

Digne showed his ability getting forward last weekend and provided several excellent crosses indicating he will have the intent and skill to provide that outlet even if Baines is declining.

In truth although Coleman’s attacking forays occasionally brought results, he’s not a truly creative player and they sometimes exposed Everton defensively.

Coleman has recently returned from a double leg-break sustained on international duty last year. This was the injury that ultimately cut short the promising Everton career of another full-back Bryan Oviedo. Of course Oviedo, like Coleman, came back but he was unable to re-capture that pace and verve that made him such a find in the 2013-14 season.

It is possible that Coleman is still struggling with the effects of that injury. He may recover but it’s also possible he might never be the same player again.

And given the continuing defensive frailties that the Toffees have exhibited again this season perhaps a more robust and defensively-minded player at right-back would help shore up the team’s defensive efforts, at least until all the Blues other defenders are fit.

It might also help Coleman to have a spell out of the team to try to re-discover his best form.

Turning to the middle of the pitch and Everton again have problems with a number of injured players out. Idrissa Gueye, James McCarthy and Beni Banningime are all unavailable and Morgan Schneiderlin has also recently been injured. One young player who might contribute here is Kieran Dowell.

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The Blues midfielder was a well-regarded prospect who has spent time out on loan, most notably at Nottingham Forest last season.

Dowell is a player who has perhaps not quite progressed as hoped but he still has time on his side and there have been glimpses of the players’ potential. He is also able to be creative and can offer a goal threat from the midfield.

Everton have lacked craft and real inventiveness in midfield for a long time. And although Gylfi Sigurdsson looks as though he’s back to his best, he is a forward or number 10. Dowell didn’t go out on loan again this season so you have to think he is in Silva’s plans.

If the Blues had further creative options, that could only enhance the team’s attacking and goal-scoring potential. Given the lack of options in the middle, Dowell is a player who might well be able to do just that and give Everton another string to their bow.