Everton's 3-3 draw against Blackburn Rovers in a behind-closed-doors game gave those players who stayed at Finch Farm during the international break the opportunity to maintain their match rhythm, as that is the hardest thing in football if you are not playing.
While recruitment is often highlighted, the academy and bringing players through remain crucial. It seems to be a lot more difficult now to have a pathway for young, emerging talent.
Nsangou's opportunity alongside Grealish
Jonathan Nsangou, who is just 16, has been given the opportunity to play a game at Hill Dickinson Stadium with Jack Grealish alongside him, providing him with the assist for his goal. He has to be a sponge and take it all in, convincing himself that he deserves the opportunity.
The academy staff and coaches have obviously told David Moyes that he deserves a chance. Stepping up and putting in a performance like that, scoring a goal, will have given him a huge vote of confidence.
That can only be good for the football group because we want to bring the youth through. The Evertonians want to see that, and we are getting the benefits now of Harrison Armstrong, who has been given the opportunity.
Learning from past mistakes
That is what let Everton down last season and resulted in both David Moyes and the players getting some stick. The manager gave an opportunity to some of his squad players in a Carabao Cup tie at Wolverhampton Wanderers and they never took it.
It killed our season a little bit. Wolves made nine changes while we made seven, and our starting line-up should have done better. They let David Moyes down. Football careers are all about moments, taking your opportunities and not making excuses.
This season, the squad is smaller, but when different players have been given opportunities, they have taken them. The likes of Tyler Dibling have stepped up to the plate when given a chance.
Selection competition and Norgaard's role
David Moyes wants to have a selection headache. He wants to be able to bring people in while still winning football matches, with competition for places in every position on the pitch.
Christian Norgaard is one of our summer arrivals, but we have not seen him yet, so this break has given him a few more weeks to get back towards fitness. It is an important position for us, and Norgaard is the type of guy who can sit and protect the back four and start dictating the play.
We have now got another six matches (five in the Premier League and a Carabao Cup tie) with three at home and three away before the next international break. The focus will be on how many points we can get in this period and whether we can keep the unbeaten run going while developing our performances.
