Northern Ireland U21 midfielder Isaac Price has described his Premier League debut for Everton as an “unbelievable experience”.
Price, still only 18, was a late substitute in Sunday’s 5-1 defeat to Arsenal in front of 60,200 spectators at the Emirates Stadium.
With top-flight safety already secure thanks to a midweek win over Crystal Palace, Toffees boss Frank Lampard went with a changed side for the final game of the season.
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And Price, who has impressed the former title-winning Chelsea midfielder in training, was handed his bow as a 78th minute replacement for Tom Davies.
Price received a lot of messages of congratulation on his Instagram after posting: “Unbelievable experience making my Premier League debut.”
Northern Ireland underage stars Charlie Allen, Brodie Spencer, Shea Charles and Aaron Donnelly all replied with applause and flame emojis.
Price, who made his first team Everton debut in a 2-0 win over Boreham Wood in the FA Cup in March, has been on Lampard’s radar since being appointed manager in January.
In April, the former England international said: “Isaac Price I've been really, really impressed with. In terms of him as a midfield player, he's got everything.”
That view was echoed by former Academy director David Unsworth who said recently: “Isaac is a box-to-box midfielder. He is a great passer, he’s got a bit of everything.”
Price, who was born in Northern Ireland but raised in Wakefield in England, qualifies to play for England, Germany or Northern Ireland.
He has represented the country of his birth at U19 and U17 level and was recently promoted to John Schofield’s U21 set-up.
In November, Northern Ireland U19s coach Gerard Lyttle described price as a “tall, hard working central midfielder who is technically very good”.
He added: “When you are profiling a player, he has a really good chance because of his height, physicality, technical ability and the mental side. He is also at a big club.”
After making his Everton debut and receiving an U21 call-up in March, Price said: “It’s been surreal and it’s probably been the best experience of my life so far.
“To make my debut for the club I’ve been at since I was seven and then getting a call-up for the 21s is another big step. Hopefully I can keep getting better.”
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