Everton's special plan for Youssef Chermiti as training changes made

Youssef Chermiti is taking on extra training drills in a bid to provide competition to frontline Everton strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto.

Coaches at Finch Farm have been pleased with the efforts of the teenager, who they acknowledge is undertaking a development programme influenced by the club’s tough circumstances.

If the squad was stronger then a loan placement would have been seriously considered in January, when there was a market for his services.

But he was kept on Merseyside in case he was needed to step up and the Portugal youth international is now showing signs of progress at a time when those in front of him are struggling to find goals. Optimism over his growth will provide a boost as Everton continues to struggle for squad depth.

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Asked by the ECHO about the progress of Chermiti, Sean Dyche recently offered an insight into how the club’s situation had impacted plans for him.

The Blues boss said: “It has been really difficult for Youssef in the sense that he comes in with a different viewpoint but he is still a young player. He actually would normally be playing lots of development games, possibly on loan, to continue his development. Quite obviously we had to change the financial guidelines of the club and therefore we had to work with a skinnier squad so we can’t afford to go out and develop in that sense, so we have got to develop him in house.”

That has meant adjusting Chermiti's workload amid additional drills to help him develop in Halewood, with efforts focusing on issues such as strength and conditioning, diet and finishing.

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