A notable inclusion in David Moyes’ first two Everton squads has been 18-year-old striker Martin Sherif.
The big Dutch youth international striker has been a surprise inclusion on the bench for both of David Moyes’ Everton games. Previously he had only been on the bench in a weakened League Cup side against Southampton earlier in the season.
It may have raised a few eyebrows given Everton play with a single striker and £26m man Beto is already on the bench deputising for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. With midfield options particularly sparse the obvious solution would be to include a more defensive player as a backup option.
It speaks volumes about the impression Sherif has made on Moyes and the coaching staff that he is included over promising attacking midfielder Omari Benjamin, regular squad member Luke Butterfield and right back Roman Dixon, who has already started for the first team away at Spurs.
But Sherif is highly rated by youth staff at Everton and under Moyes he may see a path to the first team. In fact, he is a blend of two youth strikers who thrived under Moyes decades ago. Big and strong, he instantly draws parallels with Victor Anichebe but his natural ability to finish and calmness in front of goal is more like James Vaughan, a youth produce who could have become a top striker had he not been plagued by injuries.
His signature goal at youth level has been to run on the shoulder of the last man and finish neatly past the onrushing goalkeeper, showcasing a good reading of the game and pace to get beyond the defence. After five years at the club he could be ready to make the next big step.
After signing as a 13-year-old from Almere in the Netherlands under former director of football Marcel Brands, Sherif has improved each each at the academy. He scored six in 2021/22 followed by 14 in 2022/23 seasons before last season, where he moved between the u18s and u21 sides.
This time last year Sherif starred in a 4-1 victory over Stockport County in the EFL Cup. He scored at the back post from a corner before a glancing header – set up by Harrison Armstrong – doubled his tally.
Sherif also netted a goal in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool u18s a month after to take his total to 6 in ten games for the u18s. It led to specific praise from coach Kieron Driscoll. He told the Echo:
“He’s growing into games, when there’s supply and he has composure he always looks like a goal threat.
“We have been working on his overall play, playing back to goal and so on. On the whole, he’s doing well.”
On signing his three-year contract when he turned 17, he backed up the views of the coaches. He said: “Leighton spoke to me about my hold-up play and he used Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a good example. Kieran (Driscoll – Under 18s assistant head coach) has helped with my composure in front of goal. Both of them have been really helpful to me, so I appreciate that.”
This season he has had a few niggling injuries but in September in a 3-3 draw with Ipswich u21s Sherif showed his talents with two similar goals. Breaking behind the defence, he calmly placed the ball past the goalkeeper once in each half. His calmness and ability to judge the dive of the goalkeeper was evident.
Now may be a good time for Sherif to begin to step up. At just 18 it may be that a loan is the best option for his long term development but with Calvert-Lewin set to leave the club when his contract expires, and ongoing rumours that Beto will be sold, it leaves just injury-prone Youssuf Chermiti as the only senior striker at the club.
Below Sherif in the pecking order fans should get excited about George Morgan, Braiden Graham and Ceiran Loney from the u18s but he seems most likely to step up to first team football in the next 18 months. Everton will be in the market for a direct replacement for Calvert-Lewin but suddenly the path to first team minutes seems to be opening up for Sherif.
The ideal scenario would be for Everton’s form to pick up enough that they are mathematically safe from relegation before the final few games, allowing the likes of Harrison Armstrong and Martin Sherif to get valuable Premier League minutes before deciding his next step.