The next one off the Everton youth conveyor belt could be 17 year-old midfielder Hope Akpan.

Akpan, 17, has scored in successive games, helping the U18 Toffees to a 4-0 win at MK Dons and a 6-0 thrashing of Derby County.

"It's been the best start ever," Akpan told evertonfc.com. "My first goal at Mk Dons was a penalty. I put it high above the keeper and gave him no chance.

"Last week against Derby I think I stole Karl Shepperd's goal. I think it was going in but I nodded it in on the line; I'm happy with that."

Brimming with confidence following his recent purple patch, a surprise discovery gave Akpan a further lift - finding out that the first-team manager knew all about him.

"As a young player you don't get many occasions to speak with David Moyes," he said. "When you do he puts in a word and tells you how you're doing. There was one time he talked to me and I didn't even know he knew my name! That made me feel so good."