Nathan Broadhead scored five fine goals for Everton Under-23s as they beat Runcorn Town 7-1 in a pre-season friendly on Saturday afternoon.
The Bangor born forward has rejoined Everton after a season long loan at League One side Burton Albion. Despite struggling with a hamstring injury last season he made 22 appearances for Burton, scoring 3 goals with 2 assists and a made a number of standout performances, with the season eventually been curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Having joined Everton at the age of 10, the club are reportedly now ‘open to offers’ for Broadhead, who has one year left on his contract with the club.
A regular player in Everton’s U-23 set-up, Nathan’s finest campaign to date was recognised when he scooped Everton’s Under-23 Player-of-the-Season prize following the young Blues’ league and cup double in 2018-19. A highlight of the season was also scoring a double in Everton’s 2-0 win against Liverpool U23’s at Anfield.
Everton U23 manager David Unsworth described Nathan as ‘one of the best players’ he’s worked with.
Nathan has been capped by Wales at every level from Under-17 to Under-21 and was called up by manager Ryan Giggs for a Wales training camp in the Algarve last year.
He made his senior Everton debut on 7 December 2017 when coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute in the Blues’ 3-0 Europa League group stage win over Apollon Limassol in Cyprus.
Liverpool Echo journalist Sam Carroll discussed Everton’s decision to ’listen to offers’ for Nathan on an Everton Fans pod cast recently, he said: “Unsie’ (David Unsworth) has a lot of time for Nathan, and that did show in the award he won last season.
“What I’ve always liked about Nathan, I’ve seen him play left wing, right wing, right midfield, left midfield.
“Nathan is a great lad, he’s got quality, Ryan Giggs has already noticed him, he’s trained at a senior Wales training camp alongside the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, which is no mean feat at his age.
“He had a very solid season at Burton, 22 appearances, 3 goals, 2 assists, for a young lad I think that’s a decent return.
“Everton are doing the right thing in being open for offers, it’s time for him to spread his wings and be able to ‘crack on’.
“To be honest, out of this current group, he’s one that wouldn’t surprise me if we see him back in the Premier League in the next couple of years.
“He’s exciting, he wants to get on the front foot, he loves running at players. He’s also got a real work ethic, that’s been drilled into him by ‘Unsie’ – if any Championship clubs are listening, you could do worse than going for Nathan this summer.”
