Everton manager answers the young-player critics by pointing to four club legends who also had to wait

David Moyes has told Everton’s young players to be patient, and Hayden Hackney, the summer arrival who has barely played, has said he agrees.

The Everton manager has taken plenty of criticism this season despite a relatively strong start, and one of the loudest complaints is how little he uses the younger talent in his squad. Hackney is the clearest example.

The midfielder arrived in the summer as a hugely exciting prospect, yet his minutes have been very limited. Against Chelsea he was even pushed behind Christian Nørgaard, who has impressed whenever he has been given the chance.

What did David Moyes say about Hayden Hackney and the young players?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Arsenal, as published on the official Everton website, Moyes hit back at the idea that he does not trust youth.

He pointed to the players he has brought through before and how long they waited:

“My history would suggest, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, Tim Cahill, all those ones who came in might’ve had to wait a bit of time before they became first-team regulars.

“I’m not saying these players have to do that. But hopefully, they develop as well as those boys did.

“When they come on, hopefully they can show what they’re capable of.”

Hackney, Tyrique George and Tyler Dibling are among those who will take that as a message. It is not a promise of minutes, but it does suggest a real belief in what they can offer.

Hayden Hackney is willing to earn Moyes’ trust

The comments arrive amid a growing desire among supporters to see Hackney in the side. Leon Osman recently questioned the midfielder’s lack of football, but the player himself has been far more relaxed about it.

Speaking on a podcast, Hackney said he understands the process of arriving as a new signing and having to win over his manager.

“I need to earn the manager’s trust from coming in as a new player. I think that will take time.

“Be patient, but I think that I’m ready to play now. And I’ll try to show that every day in training. But yeah, I’m happy the way it’s started, to be fair.”

That is exactly the attitude Moyes is asking for. It also fits a squad that was reshaped heavily in the summer, which we looked at in our Everton transfer window recap.

Author Opinion

Moyes has a fair point about his own record, and Baines, Jagielka, Lescott and Cahill are hard names to argue with. But patience only works if the wait ends. Hackney sounds ready and he sounds happy, and with Nørgaard doing well in front of him, the question is when the door actually opens. Everton fans will want to see it open soon.