Agard has progressed through the Everton ranks after joining from Arsenal as a 16-year-old, and was named on the bench for the first team on three occasions last season.

Agard was prolific for the under-18 side after his arrival and soon moved into the reserve squad, and he was the second string's Player of the Season last term.

The pacy forward travelled with the first-team squad to Switzerland last summer for pre-season training and now has the chance to stake his claim again.

absolutely delighted

He said: "I'm absolutely delighted. Two years is a good amount of time to show what I can do and hopefully I can give the manager food for thought.

"It was great to be named the reserves' Player of the Year last season and I've had time to go away and reflect with my family on the good bits and bad bits of my progress. I know what I need to do and I'm looking forward to it."