The international weekend continued last night with one game in particular of interest to Everton fans.
The USA hosted a friendly match against Brazil in New Jersey and two young Everton players took part in the match: Antonee Robinson for the US and Richarlison for Brazil.
Robinson started the game as part of a youthful new-look USA team while Richarlison came on for Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino after 75 minutes to win his first senior Brazil cap.
Brazil claimed a 2-0 win in the match. But more importantly it is good to see Everton represented by an increasingly diverse set of international players. And Richarlison is to my recollection the first Brazilian international the Blues have ever had.
This matters for several reasons. First of all it means Everton players are coming from really varied international backgrounds and football traditions and this can surely only benefit the Blues on the pitch.
But also the more diverse and high-profile Everton players are, the greater the appeal of the club abroad in terms of marketing and financial reach.
In particular having a Brazilian playing regularly for the most popular and glamorous international team in the world, can only be a positive thing for Everton’s global image and profile.
Because the truth is that despite their illustrious history, the Blues are well behind the leading English clubs, like Manchester United or neighbours Liverpool, in terms of their international profile and standing.
Of course winning trophies is the best way to raise that profile, something Everton have been conspicuously unable to do for well over 20 years.
Richarlison’s early season success and his winning a first full cap is though a contribution to raising that profile. Now let’s hope he can help the Blues win something in the next year or two.
As for Robinson, the promising young left-back has been a little unfortunate at Everton.
He spent much of last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers and impressed. Then having come back to Goodison Park this summer he might have hoped for some first-team chances, especially with all the summer talk about the need to find a long-term successor to Leighton Baines.
But of course new manager Marco Silva brought in French full-back Lucas Digne instead. Robinson did sign a new deal but he has gone back out on loan again this time to Wigan Athletic.
This is a scenario that many young players who have come through a Premier League club’s youth system will be familiar.
It’s a trend that can have negative consequences for the development of home-grown talent. And it often has adverse outcomes for their national teams as well as talented young players don’t get enough top-level first-team football, potentially retarding their progress.
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Think of players like Marcus Rashford and Ruben Loftus-Cheek for example. Neither are getting enough playing time at their respective clubs and this might be damaging their development.
Robinson has become an established US international, but his game would surely be enhanced if he was getting regular Premier League football.
However Digne has shown early evidence that he is a very capable replacement for the ageing Baines and it looks likely that he will eventually nail down that left-back spot for the foreseeable future.
Robinson has time on his side and could still break into the Blues team. But if he wants first-team football in his favoured position it’s likely he will have to consider a move to another club. It is to be hoped that if that happens Everton don’t end up regretting selling the young defender.