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Marco Silva is '100 per cent sure' Anthony Gordon will be the future of Everton.

Gordon was named in a Premier League matchday squad for the first time against Southampton on Saturday and despite failing to make his senior domestic debut, Silva is in no doubt about his potential.

The 18-year-old has seven goals and four assists for the under-23s this term and Silva explained the reasoning behind including him at St. Mary's.



"Because he has the quality," he replied.

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"I really like him as a football player. He is showing me to every single session that he is there to fight even if he is too young, even if the position he plays is one of the positions we have more quality in our squad.

"Just because of that he didn't have the chance until now because when you have Theo, Richarlison, Bernard, Alex Iwobi, Moise Kean can play there as well, it is not easy.



"He is a player I am 100 per cent sure will be the future of Everton Football Club.

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"He can be the present but will be the future of Everton Football Club and will have a fantastic career if he has people here to help him, keep helping him, keep teaching him because they need that. He will be a fantastic football player."



When asked if he was tempted to hand Gordon a Premier League debut, Silva added: "We decided [substitutions] really well. What we had from Dominic and Alex they had a really big impact that we needed in that moment of the game.

"It was fantastic from Alex when he started playing more forward. The pass to Sidibe was fantastic in that moment because we needed that. It was good to see the players who came in have a big impact."