Everton pushed past off-field disruption to secure their place in the EFL Cup quarter-finals with a fourth-round victory over Newcastle United at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Preparations for the high-stakes clash were jolted when Jack Grealish was dropped from the squad following an unauthorised absence from training. However, with a tie against League Two outfit Fleetwood awaiting the winner, the Toffees brushed aside the distraction as their youthful contingent seized the opportunity in the club's quest to claim a first trophy in 31 years.
Central to the performance was 24-year-old midfielder Hayden Hackney, a £16.5m summer arrival from Middlesbrough. Making only his second start since an opening-day 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, last season's Championship player of the year set up James Garner's opening goal before converting a close-range volley for Everton's second. Despite seeing his midfielder occasionally dispossessed, manager David Moyes praised his display: "I thought there were bits of his game that were very good," Moyes stated. "Getting a goal was great. There were other bits where I didn't think it was where it was [supposed to be]. But I see this as a bit of bringing in Championship players, getting them used to the Premier League. A couple of times he got caught on the ball. But I really enjoyed bits. He gave us a bit of an attacking play, getting into the box, and obviously getting the goal was really good. A really good assist from Thierno Barry as well, to be fair."
Barry's assist highlighted the growing dependence on younger personnel within a threadbare squad. Since Moyes returned in January 2025, seven of the 10 permanent recruits have been aged 24 or under. Barry, Everton's only specialist centre-forward, has started every match this season, tallying seven goals and being involved in 15 of the team's 24 big chances. Overall, the starting XI's average age in the Premier League has dropped by nearly 18 months to 26 years and 216 days following the exit of Idrissa Gueye. Players aged 21 or under have already accumulated 1,206 minutes this campaign, surpassing the 1,088 played in 2025-26. Nineteen-year-old Harrison Armstrong has started every league fixture, while Tyler Dibling, Tyrique George—who won the ball for the opening goal on Thursday—and Merlin Rohl have all taken on prominent roles.
Everton will meet Newcastle again on Monday in a Premier League encounter at St James' Park, with Moyes declining to confirm whether Grealish will be brought back into the squad. While senior figures including 33-year-old James Tarkowski, Jordan Pickford, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall remain vital cornerstones for the 63-year-old manager, Everton's emerging talents proved their worth in cup competition. Repeating that outcome in the league would offer further evidence of their expanding role and influence this season.