Can Jack Rodwell realise his potential at Everton FC?
Apr 8 2009 by Terry Owen, Daily Post WHEN the latest product of Everton’s fruitful youth academy made his record-breaking debut in December 2007, supporters could have been forgiven for feeling cautious. Francis Jeffers, Michael Ball, Tony Grant, Michael Branch, Jon O’Connor, Jamie Milligan and Danny Cadamarteri had all broken into the Goodison Park outfit’s first team during the 1990s, having graduated through the club’s ranks. Yet despite all showing glowing potential after nailing down a place in the squad, none of them forged a lengthy career in L4. While Jeffers’ star as a Premiership striker faded almost as quickly as it had risen, the likes of Grant, Cadamarteri, Milligan and Branch all went on to carve out a career in English football’s lower leagues. Of course, had he opted to stay, Wayne Rooney would still have been kissing the badge of St Rupert’s Tower rather than that of a fork-wielding Red Devil. But that’s for another time. When the Everton faithful get wind of a promisi
