Everton have suffered through a trying season, which seems destined to head towards yet another nervy climax in a desperate bid to avoid the drop.

There have seldom been things to celebrate for the Toffees, who have just five wins to their name after 24 matches.

It seemed like the misery almost culminated in the £45m sale of academy graduate Anthony Gordon last month, and whilst it represented great value, his sale was one of many at Goodison Park that has yet to be replaced.

This is a trend that stretches back over a decade, with Romelu Lukaku, Ross Barkley, John Stones and even Marouane Fellaini all having left with no viable replacement brought in.

The latter could finally be set to have his spot filled, should Sean Dyche look to his academy where a wealth of talent is just waiting to be unleashed. His standout substitution would surely be Tyler Onyango.

Can Tyler Onyango be Everton's new Fellaini?

Standing at 6 foot 3, the 19-year-old giant is just one inch short of the Belgian powerhouse who too plied his trade in midfield for the Blues.

Whilst earning praise for his offensive capabilities which won him his move to Manchester United, he would prove to be equally adept in a holding role as his growing age sped up his decline.

When venturing forward, his hold-up play and immense physicality drew particular praise from David Moyes, who noted that "he’s the best in the world with controlling with his chest. It sticks, it’s soft. He’s a problem to the opposition."

Although a slightly more all-action midfielder, Onyango could occupy a similar role within Dyche's system as Fellaini dud under the Scotsman, which allows him to join the striker and offer a true threat in the air. 

He boasts the intelligence and work rate to do so, with the teenage starlet having been lauded by journalist Adam Jones for his "good amount of pace" that makes him "hugely energetic" in the engine room.

Having earned vital senior experience this season at Forest Green Rovers under the tutelage of brutish Everton hero Duncan Ferguson, the youngster already boasts four first-team appearances too, proving himself to be an offensive threat, as the Belgian ace was.

The future is incredibly bright for Onyango, who boasts the physical and technical assets to mirror the success Fellaini found at Goodison Park.

Under Dyche too, he boasts a similar manager to Moyes who could actually play to his strengths.