Everton manager Marco Silva has stressed that he wants “balance” in his squad and insists that says age is no barrier to selection.
Under former boss Ronald Koeman, the Toffees started last season with no senior striker and struggled in the early stages of the campaign.
One of the criticisms aimed towards the Dutchman, along with ex-director of football Steve Walsh, was they did not recruit what was needed in the summer.
New Everton boss Silva, however, is keen to have a mix of both young and more experienced players within his ranks and in the matchday squad.
“It is always good when you have this balance,” Silva told the Liverpool Echo. “Some experience, some young players, some fresh players as well but I cannot tell you if the squad is too old or not – it’s not fair for me.
“For me, in football you don’t have age. If an 18-year-old player is better than the other or deserves to play more than the other then he will play more than one who is 29 or 30.
“But it is not fair to the player who is 32, 33, if he is better than the other if I don’t play him because he is 32, 33.”
The future of Everton icon Wayne Rooney continues to be shrouded in doubt amid a reported imminent move to Major League Soccer side DC United.