New Everton manager already has a promise to keep after contract deal confirmed

Evertonians will have been relieved to see Lewis Dobbin sign a new contract with the club.

Not necessarily just because of the talented star the Blues were keeping on their books, but for the message it sends to others who might follow.

The striker put pen to paper on a new three-and-a-half deal with Everton on Thursday afternoon, keeping him at Goodison Park until June 2025.

There had been some debate over whether the hugely exciting 19-year-old, who was in the final six months of his previous deal, would agree to new terms, especially with the ongoing turmoil around the club.

However, this can be used as a real positive light in what has been a gloomy time for the Blues.

Having suffered an injury which ruled him out for a large portion of the 2020/21 season, Dobbin still made his breakthrough into the under-23s and quickly caught the eye.

In fact, he impressed so much during a free-scoring pre-season in 2021 with the youth side that Rafa Benitez saw fit to give him his senior debut in the last warm-up match ahead of the Premier League campaign, against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Pre-season or not, that's a significant show of faith.

Over recent months, more cameo appearances from the bench presented themselves, before he got over half an hour in a battling 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, after replacing Ellis Simms in the second half.

Some sections of the support have been clamouring to see more of Dobbin in the senior side having caught glimpses of the quality he has shown for the U23s.

He's full of pace and energy, his defensive work from the front is strong, he has an eye for a finish - and he's still improving.

Jose Baxter, who has worked constantly with the forward as part of the youth