Dowell: I want to follow Davies into Everton first team

Tom Davies enjoyed an incredible breakthrough season for boyhood club Everton and fellow academy graduate Kieran Dowell is hoping to follow in his footsteps.

Davies featured in every match for the Toffees after Christmas, picking up the Young Player of the Season, Goal of the Season and Individual Performance of the Season gongs at the club’s end-of-term awards.

And his close friend Dowell, who helped Everton’s under-23 side scoop the Premier League 2 title, is hoping to replicate the Englishman’s form and compete for a spot in the first team.

“I’m made up for Tom,” Dowell said.

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“It’s unbelievable to see him walking out with the first team and to watch him dominate games how he does every week.

“We’re as close as we always have been. I’ve known him for a long time and I see him just as much now as I did a year or so ago – perhaps not as much in the game but I see him a lot outside of football.

“He’s shown that it can be done. It gives you a boost because we’ve both been in similar situations in that we’ve come through the academy. I want to follow suit now and do the same.

“I feel really good at the moment and I have learned a lot from this season. I’ve worked hard and I’ve improved – and now I want to take that into next season.”