Lamine Yamal reacts to Everton star vs Sunderland who exposed David Moyes

Everton can only admire talents of the calibre of Lamine Yamal, but within their own ranks, Tyler Dibling is viewed as the club’s next exciting prospect.

David Moyes saw his side exit the FA Cup on Saturday after losing a penalty shootout to Sunderland, despite the Toffees battling through to extra time. Jordan Pickford was instrumental in keeping Everton alive during the contest, but James Garner was unable to repeat his earlier heroics when it mattered most in the shootout.

Garner, alongside Beto and Thierno Barry, all had spot-kicks saved by Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs, allowing the Black Cats to book their place in the fourth round.

Despite the disappointment, Everton did have some positives to reflect on — and it seems even Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal may have taken notice.

Adam Aznou, who has largely been overlooked since joining Everton permanently from Bayern Munich in the summer, finally made his competitive debut when Moyes replaced Merlin Röhl late on in the 86th minute. The young left-back wasted no time in making an impact.

Aznou produced an impressive display against Sunderland, underlining why many feel Moyes had been too slow to trust him. According to Sofascore, the 19-year-old won a crucial penalty for Everton, contributed defensively and offensively, and earned a solid 7.2 match rating.

Following the game, Aznou shared photos of his performance on Instagram, which caught the attention of Yamal. The Barcelona star liked the post and added a heart emoji in a show of support — a small moment that did not go unnoticed by fans.

Everton invested around £8 million to sign Aznou in the summer, tying the teenager down to a long-term contract. With Vitalii Mykolenko facing criticism for his recent displays, supporters have been puzzled as to why Aznou had been kept on the sidelines for so long.

The Moroccan youngster appears to have seized his chance, and his performance clearly impressed Moyes. Speaking after the match, the Everton manager told BBC Sport:

“I thought he came on and gave us life. He ran about and was lively. I am pleased for Adam.”

Everton fans will now be hoping this cameo marks the beginning of a more prominent role for Aznou, as calls grow for the talented left-back to be rewarded with more regular game time.