Journalist Paul Brown has questioned David Unsworth's record of producing academy players capable of stepping up into the Everton first-team. 

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BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty recently criticised the Toffees' Director of Football Marcel Brands, citing - amongst other things - an academy that doesn't develop enough future stars for the senior squad.

Journalist Brown, however, has disagreed with McNulty's analysis, arguing that any failings at academy level should be Unsworth's responsibility rather than Brands'. 

What has Paul Brown said about David Unsworth?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Brown admitted that Everton have indeed struggled to nurture talent to first-team level in recent years, but claimed the responsibility for that belongs to the club's academy director Unsworth. 

He told GMS: "The academy is more David Unsworth’s responsibility. And you can certainly criticise the fact that we don’t seem to be producing enough proper first-team players at the moment.

"The teams that Unsworth’s run have been very successful but how many players have they managed to get through who’ve become fixtures in the first team? That has not been a success." 

What is Unsworth's record at Everton?

Unsworth has indeed enjoyed some success with Everton's youth sides. 

In summer 2014 he was promoted to U21s manager and went on to lift the Premier League 2 title twice, as well as the Premier League Cup in 2018/19.

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However, Everton have struggled to develop their own talent for the first-team in recent years. 

Tom Davies and Jonjoe Kenny are both fringe members of Rafa Benitez's squad, although centre-back Mason Holgate does enjoy a slightly more prominent role with two Premier League starts this season.

Some Premier League clubs will have no academy products in their first-team squad at all this season, so perhaps Unsworth is being held to a harsh standard. 

Nonetheless, Everton have a strong history of nurturing their own talent not least including Unsworth himself as well as Wayne Rooney, Ross Barkley, Jack Rodwell and Leon Osman who have all been capped by England.

Could we see a breakthrough soon?

If there's one talent who might well buck the trend at Everton, it's surely Anthony Gordon. 

At 20 years old, two elite coaches in Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez have both seen fit to give him game-time in the Premier League, and he even started in Everton's 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday.

Everton's first team squad lacks both top quality and depth this season, so there should be more chances for Gordon to impress throughout the campaign.