How close is Graham to the first team?

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How close is Graham to the first team?

If I had a pound for every time I am asked about Graham right now, I would be very rich! For those who haven't heard of him, he is the 18-year-old forward making headlines in Everton's academy. Last Friday evening the Northern Irish teenager scored four goals at Goodison Park and bagged an assist

How close is Graham to the first team?

If I had a pound for every time I am asked about Graham right now, I would be very rich! For those who haven't heard of him, he is the 18-year-old forward making headlines in Everton's academy. Last Friday evening the Northern Irish teenager scored four goals at Goodison Park and bagged an assist as the Toffees under-21 side convincingly beat Ipswich and it left supporters wondering if he could now step up to the senior side.

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The likelihood of Everton academy youngster Braiden Graham being involved with the first team has been the subject of several questions sent in via our Everton 'Ask Me Anything' form.

If I had a pound for every time I am asked about Graham right now, I would be very rich! For those who haven't heard of him, he is the 18-year-old forward making headlines in Everton's academy.

Last Friday evening the Northern Irish teenager scored four goals at Goodison Park and bagged an assist as the Toffees under-21 side convincingly beat Ipswich and it left supporters wondering if he could now step up to the senior side. The Merseyside derby followed 48 hours later and substitute Thierno Barry's lacklustre showing up front - as he failed to register a shot on target - was being debated among fans for a different reason.

So, could Graham push for a place in David Moyes' squad in the final five games?

His under-21 coach Paul Tait thinks he can offer something and heaped praised on him by explaining: "If you've got a front player who can come and link it to feet and go in behind, then you've got a good front player."

However, when I asked Moyes about Graham in January, he told me: "Braiden is doing well. We need him to build up his physicality and speed, all those things that come from stepping up to the Premier League."

Graham's form in the youth set-up has led to discussions on a chicken and egg situation. Would the forward now be best getting a chance off the bench to see how he holds his own in order to build his physical strength?

Should this happen it would need some patience from fans because he is so young and untested. The closest to the senior side the teenager has got so far was being an unused substitute in the FA Cup defeat by Sunderland.

It will be fairly obvious on Friday night if he's been given the chance to be part of the squad for Saturday's trip to West Ham. Everton's under-21s are in action again, so if there's no Braiden Graham on the teamsheet it could signify he has done enough to make Moyes think he's worth a shot.

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