Name: Jose Baxter
Date of Birth: 7th February 1992
Position: Striker
Club: Everton
Previous Clubs: None
International apps(goals)
England U16 8(3)
England U17 3(1)
The most exciting player to come through Everton's academy since Wayne Rooney. That is the verdict many of come to having seen this teenage wonderkid in action. Everton youth coach Roy Hall has stated that Baxter is a more complete player than Rooney was at the same age.
Having joined the Toffee's aged 6 he has since become the Merseyside clubs youngest ever player, after coming on as a substitute in the opening game of the 2008/9 season against Blackburn Rovers, having impressed during the clubs pre-season tours to Switzerland and the US.
His age when he made his debut was just 16 years and 191 days. Seven days later he became the youngest player to start a game for Everton when he was included the XI for the game away at West Brom. The striker would drop down to reserve action for the rest of the season, making just two more sub appearances as injuries to himself, and a lack elsewhere in the striking line up limited his chances.
Baxter will have gained the big match experience when he was included in the matchday squad for the FA Cup final last season, but was an unused sub as the Toffee's lost to Chelsea.
Three sub appearances this season, all in Europa Cup action, has seen the local lad been given another opportunity to show manager David Moyes what he is all about and he will be hoping to get more league and cup action as the season unfolds.
In March of this year he signed a new contract to keep him at Goodison Park until the end of the 2010/11 season.
He has played for England at every level right upto U17, and was captain of the U17 side in this years European Championships. He won the U16 Victory Shield in 2006 and 2007 with England and also the Tournoi de Montaigu in 2008.
In October of this year he was arrested after e car he was a passenger in was stopped and searched by police. The police found cannabis and forged notes and all three men in the vehicle were arrested for possession of cannabis with intent to sell and possession of forged currency. Baxter has been bailed until the New Year but Everton boss David Moyes has a strict code of conduct and will not be impressed with the youngsters brush with the law, no matter how much, or little, involvement Baxter had.