Everton coach Paul Tait admits they're delighted with the progress of Ellis Sims.

Simms heads into the League One play-off final with Blackpool having struck 10 goals in 22 appearances since joining in January.

Tait worked extensively with Simms before his promotion to the under-23s set-up and says the club felt there was plenty to work with, when taking him from Man City four years ago.

“I'm delighted he's doing so well as I loved working with Ellis," Tait said.

“We took a bit of a chance, taking him from Manchester City at 16.

"We saw something in him that we could help develop. He certainly did that and had a phenomenal second season with us when he scored almost 50 goals.

“We always say to the boys about using every day to try to improve – and Ellis really grasped that, working on different parts of his game to make himself better.

“He's done great at Blackpool and met that challenge head on.

“He's just got to keep working hard and I'm sure he will do."

Simms has one year remaining on the Everton deal he signed in 2019 and Tait added: “What Ellis has had to do is grow up quickly.

“He's a powerful lad and when he was bigger and stronger than the other lads in Under-18s football, he could out-strength them, but that doesn't happen automatically now.

“He has to find a way to showcase other parts of his game like his technique and his reading of the game.

“One thing Ellis has always done is score goals. His anticipation skills in the box are very good.

“But the biggest thing he'll take from this loan spell is the mentality. To play Tuesday and Saturday every week in League One can be gruelling.

“He's been in and out of the team, too. He hasn't played every game, as Neil has rotated his forwards at times. That'll be really good for him, developing that mentality you need to be a seasoned professional.

“And it will be amazing for him to play in those big play-off matches."