Everton’s academy has produced some fine talents over the years, with plenty having gone on to feature heavily for the first team.

Leon Osman, Ross Barkley and more recently Anthony Gordon have all earned various levels of success at Goodison Park, and they could be set to have their next gem who could make Evertonians quickly forget about James Rodriguez.

The Colombian superstar graced Merseyside for a sole year and starred throughout an injury-hit season behind closed doors. He scored six and assisted five in just 23 games in the Premier League, as well as contributing another three assists in two FA Cup matches.

Perhaps young Charlie Whitaker could soon be the man to step up and contribute these kinds of numbers throughout a season, as he seems to be showing he has all the quality to make the move with his performances in Premier League 2.

David Unsworth was his former U23s manager, and following one of his many stellar performances claimed that “the future is bright” for the “sensational” 19-year-old.

This came after his remarkable hat trick against Southampton’s youngsters, which was just three of the 11 goals he scored across both the U18s and U23 leagues.

With Frank Lampard having now accepted that a 4-3-3 is likely his best bet at success, Whitaker now has a much higher chance of forcing his way into the 44-year-old’s plans if he can continue his form. 

The former Chelsea manager boasts a proven track record for promoting youth, with Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori all owing plenty to his keen eye. 

Whitaker could be the next to succeed under his watch, and from what Unsworth went on to say, he does fit the mould as the perfect Rodriguez replacement.

He said: “I've watched Charlie for a number of years and we always knew he had the quality in flashes. 

“He has played out wide, he has played up-front....but we have tried to play him as a second striker, not a number 10, a second-striker because his game is naturally dropping into spaces where you want a number 10.

"We have tried to get someone up there with him and he has been sensational.”

Rodriguez too was a versatile customer who would play off either flank, further cementing their comparison on top of the goals they offer in the final third.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin hopeful for a return soon, and Neal Maupay now a permanent fixture, in no time at all Whitaker could be the next sensational young talent to take the Premier League by storm, playing off a central striker.