It is often said that the problem with modern academy players is that they lack the street wisdom and rough edges of schoolboy footballers.

Everton’s latest graduate, Tom Davies, endearingly blends the progressive and retro – his old-school, low-worn socks prompting nostalgic references to his uncle, Alan Whittle. This is a teenager who outplayed one of the most expensive, lauded midfields in world football and celebrated by heading out for a curry with family and friends a few hours later.

Those describing the 18-year-old as a ‘throwback’ need not reserve their reminiscing for the 1970s, however. Davies emerged from the fields of the Liverpool suburb of West Derby during a period when some academies were discouraging their emerging talent from participating in schoolboy football. A Merseyside schools system that produced Wayne Rooney, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher often felt sidelined and alienated. Some academies in England still warn youngsters about playing for school teams.

Faced with the choice of turning his back on representing Liverpool Schoolboys and focusing entirely on academy training, the 12-year-old Davies insisted on doing both. To their credit, Everton did not stand in his way, despite the talent being so prodigious that the Merseyside club had paid a nominal fee to Tranmere Rovers to secure his services when he was just 10.