EVERTON may look to 16-year-old James Vaughan to ease their mounting striking problems against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
David Moyes has only two recognised forwards available for the Goodison Park encounter after James Beattie damaged knee ligaments in training last weekend.
The club's record signing is expected to be out for a month, and with Everton registering only one goal in the three consecutive defeats that have placed Champions League qualification in serious doubt the teenager is in contention for the Palace squad.
Vaughan impressed Moyes in the Everton reserve team defeat by Manchester United on Monday night, continuing the progress that has elevated him from the under-18 Academy team into Andy Hold-en's second string this season.
Over the Easter period the Birmingham-born forward also announced his arrival on the international scene with two goals in his first three games for John Peacock's England under-17s.
Vaughan, who joined Everton as a schoolboy, made his debut as a substitute against Serbia and Montenegro in a 3-1 win.
Then three days later he was handed a starting role against Northern Ireland and responded with his first international strike in a 3-0 victory.
Vaughan scored his second goal after coming off the bench in a 3-1 win over Republic of Ireland to help England book their place in this summer's European Under-17s Championships in Tuscany in Italy, where they will face Turkey, Croatia, Belarus, Holland, Israel and Italy.
The striker has already had a taste of senior action this season, first as an unused substitute against Manchester United in the FA Cup and then at Aston Villa in the league.
If he appears against Palace on Sunday the 16-year-old will become the youngest player ever to play for Everton - breaking the 37-year record held by Joe Royle. And if he scores, Vaughan will take the youngest goalscorer mantle currently held by Wayne Rooney.
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