New Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has suggested in his pre-Burnley programme notes that he was impressed with four players in particular during the 0-0 draw against Arsenal at the weekend.

What did he say?

Well, the 60-year-old was writing for the first time in the matchday programme for the visit of the Clarets, and Everton's official Twitter account provided a sneak preview of what the Italian had written ahead of the Premier League clash at Goodison Park on Boxing Day.

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Included were some words of approval for some of the younger members of the starting XI who filled the positions in the middle of the park – presumably 23-year-old Mason Holgate, 21-year-old Tom Davies, 22-year-old Dominic Calvert-Lewin and 22-year-old Richarlison.

Ancelotti wrote: "It was encouraging, too, to see young players comfortable with the responsibility of filling key positions through the middle of the side against Arsenal."

High praise indeed

That will certainly come as a big boost for the quartet, with the experienced former Napoli boss suggesting with those comments that he is willing to give younger players a chance if they are good enough.

To be fair as things stand he may not have much choice, with injuries in midfield to Morgan Schneiderlin, Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Andre Gomes leaving the Merseyside outfit particularly short there, while Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison are their most in-form centre-forwards right now with the likes of Oumar Niasse, Cenk Tosun and Moise Kean either out of favour or struggling for form.

From Ancelotti's point of view, he will be clearly be content that he knows he can lean on the younger members of his squad when he needs to.

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According to a tactical piece about the 60-year-old in The Liverpool Echo, he is likely to be a big fan of the likes of Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Holgate and the traits they bring moving forwards, given the profile of players he likes to have in his preferred 4-4-2 formation.

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