Downes seems a likely starter
David Moyes has paid Flynn Downes an enormous compliment by comparing him with some of his top signings.
The £12 million on signing has been hugely impressive over the European games in which he has played and there is already a growing belief he is ready for Premier League football.
Moyes has been a dab hand at pulling lower league players into his set ups down the years and the former Swansea City midfielder looks business like several before him.
Moyes has been discussing his surprise signing in glowing terms making it clear that he is expecting big things from the young man but probably not just yet
Like those before him, at Everton in particular, he will be given the time to learn and develop as part of the young and athletic squad Moyes is attempting to build in east London.
Moyes told football.london the player was going the way he wanted it to go.
The manager said: “He started slow and I said this because for reference, I had the likes of Leighton Baines, I also had Phil Jagielka who I took both from the Championship teams.
Neither of them , probably got in the team for six months in the early days and they both went on to win I don’t know how many caps [for England].
It takes time and if everybody wants to see people right away, they’ve got to trust the manager. The manager is seeing it and doing the right thing and my experience will tell me.
“Flynn has done very well in the two games. Bits of last night, very good, bits of it, he has to do better. He needs to start expanding his game as a midfield player, but he’s got a lot of good things going for him.
I’ll bring him on at the right speed and the right time but I’ve been pleased with what he’s been doing.”