Both Mason Holgate and Dominic Calvert-Lewin may have become key Everton first-team players under caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson and then current manager Carlo Ancelotti in recent months, but it has been a different story for one other youngster.

While the former didn't start in the win against Crystal Palace on Saturday – breaking a run of 16 consecutive ones in the Premier League – he has become a key component of the backline under the Italian in recent weeks, also excelling in a defensive midfield position against Manchester United having been selected there by Ferguson.

Meanwhile, Calvert-Lewin has eight goals in 11 top-flight fixtures since Marco Silva was sacked, having netted three in 14 prior to that at the beginning of the campaign.

He has established himself as the club's first-choice centre-forward alongside Richarlison too, with Ancelotti seemingly happy to place his trust in the former Sheffield United man.

While Holgate and his 22-year-old English teammate have been thriving, midfielder Tom Davies hasn't been quite as lucky.

With Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin out injured and the likes Morgan Schneiderlin and Gylfi Sigurdsson off-colour in the middle of the park at times – see their 3/10 and 2/10 ratings respectively from The Liverpool Echo for their displays against Liverpool in the FA Cup as an example – the 21-year-old looked to have a great chance to nail down a regular starting XI spot like two of his younger comrades in the dressing room have.

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He did get a run of four starts towards the end of the festive period and into January when Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson were both missing at different points, but he has featured for just 32 minutes in the previous three Premier League fixtures having seemingly failed to take his opportunity.

Davies has come under criticism from some fans on Twitter for his displays too, suggesting he has some work to do to win both his manager and the Goodison Park faithful over.

Given his age and the increased competition that will be provided by the returning Gomes and Gbamin, it could be suggested that a loan move away could be the best option for the 21-year-old, so he can play regularly and discover some much-needed confidence.

Did he really play for us?! No Everton fan has managed to name all of these obscure Toffees players....

However, another way to look at it is that he is working under a hugely successful coach who has three Champions League titles to his name as a manager, and someone who has visibly boosted and improved younger players like Calvert-Lewin and Holgate already in less than two months in the role.

A full pre-season working under the Italian could be just what Davies needs to turn the corner.

Keep the faith, because this boy can still follow in the footsteps of his two Toffees teammates.

In other Everton news, the club has reportedly joined the race to sign a European starlet Jurgen Klopp once described as a "wonderful player"...