Everton's emerging talents are making a compelling case for regular first-team opportunities, with Hayden Hackney leading the way in an impressive EFL Cup victory over Newcastle United despite the absence of Jack Grealish.
Everton entered Thursday's fourth-round EFL Cup clash against Newcastle United at Hill Dickinson Stadium knowing that victory would secure a quarter-final meeting with League Two side Fleetwood.
For supporters desperate to end a 31-year trophy drought, the competition represented a genuine opportunity for silverware.
However, preparations were disrupted when Grealish was omitted from the squad following what is understood to have been an unauthorised absence from training.
Rather than allowing the controversy to overshadow their performance, Everton's younger players stepped forward to deliver an encouraging display against strong Premier League opposition.
Summer signing Hayden Hackney emerged as one of Everton's standout performers, playing a decisive role in the victory over Newcastle.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who arrived from Middlesbrough for £16.5m, assisted James Garner's opening goal before scoring Everton's second with a close-range volley.
Despite being named Championship Player of the Year last season, Hackney has had limited opportunities to establish himself under David Moyes.
After starting Everton's opening Premier League fixture, a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace, his only subsequent start before Thursday came against Wolves in the previous round of the EFL Cup.
Against Newcastle, however, Hackney demonstrated the qualities that earned him his move to the Premier League.
His intelligent movement, confident ball progression and ability to connect midfield with attack helped Everton control important periods of the match.
The performance was particularly notable because it marked only the second occasion in his professional career that he had registered both a goal and an assist in the same game.
Moyes praised aspects of Hackney's display but insisted the midfielder still has areas to improve.
"I thought there were bits of his game that were very good," the Everton manager said.
"Getting a goal was great. There were other bits where I didn't think it was where it was [supposed to be]."
Moyes acknowledged that players arriving from the Championship require time to adjust to Premier League demands, highlighting moments when Hackney was caught in possession.
Nevertheless, he welcomed the midfielder's attacking contribution and praised Thierno Barry for his assist.
While Hackney impressed in midfield alongside Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Everton's reliance on young players extends throughout the squad.
Since Moyes returned to the club in January 2025, seven of Everton's 10 permanent signings have been aged 24 or younger.
Among them is French striker Thierno Barry, who joined from Villarreal in July 2025.
The France Under-21 international has quickly become an essential part of Everton's attack, partly because the club lacks alternative options at centre-forward.
Barry is Everton's only specialist striker and has started every match this season, accumulating 918 minutes.
His seven goals have already brought him within one of last season's total, despite playing 30 fewer matches.
The striker's involvement in Everton's attacking opportunities also highlights his importance.
Of the club's 24 recorded big chances this season, Barry has been involved in 15, representing 62.5% of the total.
Although squad limitations have contributed to his regular selection, Barry's performances suggest he is developing into a reliable attacking option.
Everton's growing dependence on younger players reflects a broader shift in Moyes' squad management.
The average age of the club's Premier League starting XI has fallen by almost 18 months this season to 26 years and 216 days.
The departure of experienced midfielder Idrissa Gueye has contributed to that reduction, but the increased involvement of younger players is equally significant.
Players aged 24 or younger now account for a considerably larger share of Everton's Premier League minutes than during the previous campaign.
Moyes used just 22 players throughout last season's Premier League campaign, a figure he has already matched this season.
The increased opportunities are particularly noticeable among the youngest members of the squad.
During the entire 2025-26 season, Everton players aged 21 or younger accumulated 1,088 Premier League minutes.
That total has already been surpassed this season, with the same age group recording 1,206 minutes.
The figures underline a clear change in Everton's approach, with younger players increasingly trusted to contribute rather than simply provide squad depth.
One of the biggest beneficiaries of Everton's changing approach has been 19-year-old midfielder Harrison Armstrong.
After completing a six-month loan spell at Preston in January, Armstrong was initially considered for another temporary move to Deepdale.
Instead, Moyes gradually introduced him to the senior squad, and the teenager has since established himself as a regular starter.
Armstrong has started every Premier League match this season, making him the youngest regular member of Everton's first team.
Winger Tyler Dibling is another player showing signs of progress.
The 20-year-old initially struggled to make an impact following his £35m transfer from Southampton in the summer of 2025.
However, his positive attacking performance against Newcastle demonstrated growing confidence, particularly when carrying the ball forward and putting defenders under pressure.
Tyrique George has also enjoyed increased opportunities since completing a permanent move from Chelsea.
The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Everton but made just one Premier League start during that spell.
This season, George has already started five league matches and scored his first Everton goal in September's 2-2 draw with Manchester United.
He also featured from the start against Newcastle in the EFL Cup, winning possession in the build-up to Everton's opening goal.
Together, Armstrong, Dibling and George represent an increasingly influential group of young players capable of shaping Everton's future.
Midfielder Merlin Rohl has also benefited from Moyes' willingness to trust younger members of his squad.
The 24-year-old established himself towards the end of last season before completing a permanent transfer following an initial loan spell.
Although naturally a midfielder, Rohl has been deployed at right-back to address a problem position in Everton's defence.
His importance became evident when he returned directly to the starting lineup against Chelsea after missing four matches through injury.
Moyes subsequently selected him ahead of the more experienced Ainsley Maitland-Niles for fixtures against Arsenal and Newcastle.
Rohl's versatility has provided Everton with additional tactical flexibility while reinforcing his growing importance to the team.
Despite the increasing influence of Everton's younger players, Moyes continues to value the experience of his established first-team regulars.
Defender James Tarkowski, 33, has been among the club's most consistent performers this season.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, 32, and midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, 28, also remain central to Everton's performances.
Their leadership and experience provide an important foundation for a squad undergoing gradual transformation.
Moyes has demonstrated that he is prepared to give young players opportunities, but his demanding approach ensures that performances and consistency remain essential.
Everton face Newcastle again on Monday, this time at St James' Park in the Premier League.
Grealish's availability remains uncertain following his omission from the EFL Cup squad.
When questioned about whether the winger would return, Moyes declined to provide an update on his team selection.
However, Everton's cup performance demonstrated that the team can deliver results without relying exclusively on established stars.
Hackney's decisive contribution, Barry's attacking development and the growing confidence of Armstrong, Dibling, George and Rohl offer encouraging signs for the club.
With Everton targeting progress in both domestic competitions and the Premier League, the development of these young players could prove crucial.
A second victory over Newcastle in less than a week would provide further evidence that Moyes' emerging talents are ready to play a significant role in Everton's future.
