Loan Watch - 1st October

Away from the disappointing events of the 216th Merseyside derby, several of Everton's players were in action for their loan sides this weekend.

João Silva scored for Vitória de Setúbal as they beat Rio Ave 2-1 on Friday night. You can see the Portuguese striker's goal in this video - about 2 minutes in.

Jose Baxter made his second appearance for Tranmere Rovers in their 0-0 draw with Bournemouth at Prenton Park.

Shane Duffy played the full ninety minutes for Scunthorpe United as they won 1-2 at Stevenage.

Luke Garbutt, who only joined Cheltenham Town this week, was an unused substitute as his new side secured a great 1-3 victory at Bristol Rovers.

Joseph Yobo was involved in a great game over in Turkey, where his Fenerbahçe side eventually ran out 4-2 winners over Büyükşehir.

Araz Abdullayev came on as a 74th minute substitute as Neftçi Baku beat Simurq 2-1. The Azerbaijani winger is not on loan - but Everton have first option on him should he be granted a work permit.

International Round-Up: 1st September

Several of Everton's young players were in action tonight for their respective national sides. Here's a round-up of how they fared.

I'll start with a fixture that took place last night. Teenage defender Shkodran Mustafi won his first cap for the German U20 side in their 4-2 victory over Poland in Offenburg. Mustafi has previously represented his country at U17 and U19 level and was promoted to the U20 side for the win over Poland.

Striker João Silva was named amongst the substitutes for Portugal's U21 Euro 2013 Qualifier in Moldova tonight. The Everton striker, currently on loan at Portuguese side Vitória de Setúbal, came on after 67 minutes as goals from João Pereira and Rui Fonte handed the Portuguese youngsters a 0-2 victory.

Shane Duffy was an unused substitute as Ireland U21 beat Hungary 2-1 in their Euro Qualifier. Robbie Brady put the Republic ahead on 15 minutes but Hungary drew level before half-time through Portsmouth's Márkó Futács. Arsenal's Rhys Murphy scored the winner for the Irish youngsters on 69 minutes.

Jack Rodwell started for England U21s as they took on Azerbaijan in another of the Euro U21 2013 Qualifying matches. The opposition included winger Araz Abdullayev, who recently joined Greek side PAOK on loan for the season. Another Everton player, Ross Barkley, was on the bench for the hosts.

In the fixture, held at Watford's Vicarage Road, England took the lead after just 5 minutes when Craig Dawson headed home from a Henri Lansbury corner. Lansbury himself doubled the advantage soon afterwards with an excellent volley after good work from his Arsenal teammate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Jordan Henderson put England 3-0 up before half-time and further goals from Lansbury, Martyn Waghorn and Craig Dawson after the break secured an emphatic 6-0 victory.

Araz In Line To Face Teammates

Winger Araz Abdullayev has been called up to the Azerbaijan U21 squad for next Thursday's opening Euro 2013 Qualifier with England, meaning that he could face future clubmates Jack Rodwell and Ross Barkley.

17-year-old Abdullayev, who is set for a loan move to Greek side PAOK, is Azerbaijan's youngest ever player having made his debut for the senior team at the age of just 16 years 4 months.

He is now back in Bernhard Lippert's Under-21 squad, who will hope to avenge their 7-0 loss to England when the sides last met in 2009.

The full 22-man squad is: Osman Umarov, Salahat Aghaye, Emil Balayev, Tarlan Guliyev, Gara Garayev, Novruz Mammadov, Farrukh Rahimov, Mikhail Zaytsev, Haji Ahmadov, Mirhuseyn Seyidov, Eshgin Guliyev, Emin Mustafayev, Javid Imamverdiyev, Kamil Nurahmadov, Araz Abdullayev, Amit Guluzada, Badavi Huseynov, Aleksandr Gross, Tural Isgandarov, Orkhan Hasanov, Jihan Ozkara, Ali Gokdamir.

Rumour: Young Winger Set For PAOK Loan

19-year-old midfielder Araz Abdullayev may be loaned to Greek side PAOK, according to various sources in his homeland, Azerbaijan, and potential destination, Greece.

The teenager, who is Azerbaijan's youngest ever full international (16 years 4 months), is not officially an Everton player, although we look set to sign him providing he can obtain a work permit.

Various sources, including Azerbaijani football website azfutbol.com and Twitter account @greekfooty, report that the youngster will be loaned to POAK whilst Everton attempt to resolve the permit issues.

International Round-Up: 9th August

Shane Duffy played the second half for the Republic of Ireland U21 side on Tuesday night, whilst Araz Abdullayev featured for Azerbaijan U21s.

Centre-half Duffy was introduced at half-time in the Republic's friendly U21 game with Austria with the scores level at 0-0. Against the run of play, Austria took the lead on 68 minutes through a free-kick from Raphael Holfhauser.

Ireland responded well and managed to turn the game on its head thanks to a brace from Robbie Brady. The Manchester United youngster levelled the game on 72 minutes before winning - and converting - a penalty in injury time.

Earlier in the day teenager Araz Abdullayev represented Azerbaijan U21 as they won 3-1 in Estonia. Abdullayev started in Tallinn as goals from Cihan Özkara (2) and Mirhüseyn Seyidov gave the Azerbaijanis victory.

Everton have not yet signed Abdullayev - but the club do have first option on the 18-year-old providing he can obtain a work permit.

One game that didn't take place today was the Ghana v Nigeria fixture. The game was scheduled to be held at Watford's Vicarage Road, but was cancelled amid safety fears following the riots in the capital.

That meant that Victor Anichebe and Joseph Yobo were denied the chance to represent their country, although Yakubu was not in the squad.

Dynamo Moscow 0-2 Everton Reserves

Everton deservedly secured third place in the 2011 VTB Lev Yashin Cup with a convincing 2-0 win over hosts Dynamo Moscow on Saturday afternoon. The Toffees missed a penalty and received a harsh sending off before a Conor McAleny brace secured an impressive 2-0 victory.

Everton's captain Jose Baxter saw his first-half spot-kick hit the crossbar after Joao Silva was hauled down inside the area. The scores were level at the break, and after the interval Everton were soon down to 10 men following the dismissal of Aristote Nsiala.

Everton showed their fighting spirit and a double from Conor McAleny was enough to earn a bronze medal, whilst simultaneously making sure that it was an awful weekend for the hosts.

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After seeing his charges lose narrowly to German side SC Freiburg on Friday, coach Alan Stubbs made four changes to his U21 line-up. Conor McAleny replaced Apostolos Vellios in attack, Luke Garbutt came in for Jake Bidwell at left-back, Jordan Barrow took up the central midfield role in place of John Lundstram and, in a late change, Shkodran Mustafi pulled out and was replaced by Aristote Nsiala in the heart of defence.

That meant that Everton lined up in a 4-4-2 formation as follows: Adam Davies; Tyias Browning, Aristote Nsiala, Shane Duffy, Luke Garbutt; Jordan Barrow, Jose Baxter (c), Adam Forshaw, Araz Abdullayev; Conor McAleny, Joao Silva.

The Everton substitutes were; Mateusz Taudul, Jake Bidwell, Shkodran Mustafi, John Lundstram, Anton Forrester, Apostolos Vellios and Hallam Hope.

Everton started the game brightly an Joao Silva was presented with the game's first real chance after being sent clean through. The Portuguese forward lifted the ball over the 'keeper, but his shot clipped the post and bounced agonisingly out of play. Conor McAleny also had a good chance in a lively opening spell from for the visitors.

Minutes later, and with Everton doing all the pressing, Silva was hauled down inside the area and the referee had no option but to award Everton a penalty. Jose Baxter stepped up, but drilled his effort against the crossbar and the sides remained level at the break.

At the interval Vellios was introduced as Everton pushed for a breakthrough goal, and recently-signed Polish goalkeeper Mateusz Taudul came on for his Everton debut.

Soon after the interval Everton found themselves down to 10 men after defender Aristote Nsiala received his marching orders. A yellow for an 'elbow' was quickly followed by another for dissent (from a Russian referee whom he could barely understand), and the centre-half was harshly sentenced to an early bath.

Undeterred, Everton kept pressing and no sooner had Nsiala finished running his bath had Everton taken the lead. Greek substitute Apostolos Vellios put through Conor McAleny, who lifted the ball over the 'keeper to put the 10 men in front.

McAleny notched his and Everton's second just a few minutes later to cap off an excellent display by the Young Toffees, who will return to England with the bronze medal.

Everton Reserves 0-1 SC Freiburg

An U-21 Everton side lost by a solitary goal to SC Freiburg in the VTB Lev Yashin Cup in Moscow this evening, and will now face hosts Dynamo Moscow in tomorrow's 3rd/4th place play-off.

Adam Davies donned the gloves in goal for Everton and was protected by a back four of Tyias Browning, Shkodran Mustafi, Shane Duffy and Jake Bidwell. Captain Jose Baxter lined up in midfield alongside John Lundstram, Adam Forshaw and surprise inclusion Araz Abdullayev. There was a Portu-Greek combination up front as Joao Silva partnered Apostolos Vellios in attack.

New signing Mateusz Taudul was named on the bench and was joined by Aristote Nsiala, Conor McAleny, Jordan Barrow, Hallam Hope, Luke Garbutt and Anton Forrester.

Azerbaijani winger Abduallayev, 19, was invited along to the tournament by Everton, who last year secured first option on the Neftchi Baku player - subject to the youngster being able to obtain a work permit.

Except for the official Everton updates on Twitter - which were hampered by internet problems - there was not a hint of coverage of the match on the internet.

From the little I could gather, however, Everton started well and centre-half Mustafi was denied by a great save from the Freiburg goalkeeper. However, the Blues fell behind just after the half-hour mark to a 25-yard strike from Freiburg's Erich Sautner.

Despite some positive play from skipper Baxter, and a penalty appeal from Hallam Hope, 1-0 was how it stayed as the young squad were unable to find a second-half equaliser.

In the other game in the 4-team tournament, Serbian side OFK Belgrad defeated hosts Dynamo Moscow 3-1, meaning that the final will be contested between OFK Belgrad and Freiburg, whilst Everton will face Dynamo Moscow in the 3rd/4th place play-off.

Those fixtures will be played tomorrow - be sure to check back then to see how the Blues fare.