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George Green says he is prepared to go out on loan as he looks to edge his way closer to Everton FC's first team.

The 18-year-old midfielder is one of a clutch of promising talents working their way through the ranks at Goodison Park.

Having moved to Merseyside from Bradford three years ago, Green has long been tipped for stardom. The fee Everton paid for the then 15-year-old in 2011 could, it is understood, rise to as much as £2m.

Last season saw the Yorkshireman make steady progress, making 12 appearances at U21 level as well as featuring regularly for Kevin Sheedy's title-winning U18 side.

Now, the youngster is ready to kick on, though he acknowledges he may need to gain some experience elsewhere before he is ready to challenge for a place in Roberto Martinez's senior side.

Green said: "This year I don't want any injuries. I want to get involved and crack on. I want to be playing regularly for the Under-21s.

"I'd maybe like to go out on loan to experience first-team football elsewhere and hopefully come back and be around the first-team, which is probably what all the lads want to do."

Martinez has already challenged Everton's young players to show him they are capable of making an impact at first-team level in the coming months, and Green says he is feeling fit and ready to do exactly that.

He said: "I've come back more prepared this year than I have done in the past. I'm feeling really fresh and fit.

"I thought last season went well with the Under-18s winning the Premier League. I had an injury when I thought I was reaching my peak with how I was playing, so it was tough to come back. I lost a lot of fitness.

“I'm loving it at the moment. Training has been hard and different, but I feel as if I expected it to be harder because of previous years.

"We're coming to a stage in our career now where winning is vital and to win things you go further, especially in training."

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