This article is part of Football FanCast’s In The Pipeline series, which takes a look at some of the most promising young talent either linked with clubs or emerging from their academies…

Everton's youth sides have flourished over the past couple of years and seen some fantastic players make a strong case for a first-team argument. Over the past three seasons, the club's youngsters have won two U21 Premier League titles and witnessed stars like Anthony Gordon and Ellis Simms flourish.

However, it seems the abilities run even deeper with the Blues' young goal-getters, with 16-year-old Lewis Dobbin beginning to make waves. This season, Dobbin has four goals and one assist in nine appearances for the U18s, as Everton sit three points behind leaders Manchester City with a game in hand.

The youngster also has three goals in seven games for England U16s and has started to establish himself as a name to watch for the future.

U23s boss David Unsworth has been keeping an eye on him and has clearly become a big fan of the striker.

“I've been champing at the bit to get him involved," Unsworth told the Liverpool Echo last month.

"Him, and there's probably one other under-18s player, who has done really well.

"I think it is important that we allow them to bed in, in their first year scholarship to get used to the amount of training they do, the intensity of it.

"He's going to be a top player, there's absolutely no doubt about that and the great thing tonight was that we had seven subs so it was great to get him involved.

"I was desperate to throw him on and he showed little glimpses of his pace and movement and there is an awful lot to work with there. I think he's got a very bright future.”

There will be strong competition for Dobbin moving forward in Everton's ranks with Simms scoring 41 goals in 44 appearances for the U18s.

The Guardian also named Dobbin in their 'next generation' of players to watch, stating he is a "quick, intelligent forward with a sharp eye for goal".

Over the years, as he racks up more goals, Unsworth will have no choice but to promote him to the U23s.

At just 16 years old, he is certainly a player to keep a keen eye on.