Former Man Utd Academy Prospect Scouted by Everton
Everton have sent scouts to watch former Manchester United starlet Zaid Smith after they first spotted him at our trial in Stockport…
Six clubs scouted Zaid, 14, when he played at our trial in Manchester in February this year.
Clubs from all levels of English football were interested in having a closer look at the winger, who spent years at Manchester United before being released aged seven.
But it was Premier League side Everton who made the first move and sent a scout to watch him play for his club side Fletcher Moss last Sunday – the same team where Marcus Rashford came through the ranks.
Zaid’s Dad, Chris, said: “Everton got in touch and said they’d be sending someone down to watch him play last week, but to be honest he didn’t stay that long.
“After about 15 minutes Zaid had created a couple of goals and the scout said he’d seen enough and that thinks he’d be good enough to go and train at the club.
“So we will see what happens with that but things are going really well at the moment and we cant thank UK Football Trials enough.”
After his release from Manchester United as a youngster, Zaid was invited to a trial with rivals Liverpool in 2011, which proved ultimately unsuccessful due to an untimely sickness.
There’s been several interest since then, which Chris explains has come at the wrong time, but now the two-footed winger will be hoping to get a chance with the blue half of the city at Everton.
“He’s had a lot of offers over the last few years,” said Chris, “But we haven’t felt that he has been ready to go into that environment.”
Chris added: “I think now this Everton thing has come at the right time and he’s ready for something like this to come along.
“He’s just got such a great attitude and trains every day for this opportunity – he’s got his own programme he follows every evening and he works so hard at it.
“But he takes all this in his stride and whatever happens, happens.”
It remains to be seen what the next step will be in Zaid’s career but Everton were undoubtedly impressed with the promising youngster.