Everton U23 coach David Unsworth has explained handing Harry Charsley a short-term contract.
The 22 year-old was initially set for release after more than a decade with his boyhood club.
The Republic of Ireland youth international had missed the majority of the campaign through injury but Unsworth confirmed that Everton have now handed the Premier League 2 title-winner fresh terms until January.
"I've seen a bit of press about it recently," Unsworth told the Liverpool Echo.
"Harry's been with us since he was five or six. He got injured towards the end of the season and it was a real serious injury, a stress fracture of his back.
"What we didn't want to do and what we don't do at this club is chuck kids to the side and not look after them. He couldn't do anything for three or four months and we have an obligation to look after the player.
"We felt it was the right decision to give him a contract until January to get fit and stay fit. We're on smaller numbers than we have been over the last couple of years so there's an opportunity to increase his profile and get himself a club in January."
