David Unsworth has claimed that Everton's eagerness to give young players an opportunity is the reason behind them recording over 1,000 consecutive matches with an academy graduate in the squad.
The Toffees' recent 4-0 defeat against Manchester United was the 1,000th match in the sequence, their squad including academy graduates Tom Davies and Wayne Rooney, plus two players who joined the club as teenagers in Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Mason Holgate.
"We've always afforded young players opportunities. We recruit good players and we are in a really great area for raw talent," Unsworth, now manager of Everton's Under-23 side, told Sky Sports News.
"When you put them in this environment with great people, great coaches and, above all, an opportunity, that's when you get the players coming through. Without opportunity you have nothing."
Everton's reserve team won the Premier League 2 title last season.
