Kennedy Thanks Everton Family

Matthew Kennedy says he has already settled into the Everton way of life after netting his first goal for the Club's Under-21 side.

The 17-year old joined the Blues from Kilmarnock on the final day of the summer transfer window and capped a whirlwind month with a well-taken strike and two assists in the 5-2 win over Bolton on Sunday.

After that game Kennedy told evertonfc.com that he already feels at home on Merseyside.

"This whole set-up is like a family and it seems impossible not to settle," he said.

"I feel I have already. I've been here a month now and I've been staying with [fellow new arrival] Ben McLaughlin. We get on well together and the family we're staying with have been brilliant.

"They've helped me settle in as well as all of the boys. They've all been great in bringing me into the group."

Instrumental in a second-half comeback against the Wanderers, the Scotland Under-19 international was full of praise for his clinical teammates.

Matthew Pennington, Kennedy, Conor McAleny and Shane Duffy all added to Magaye Gueye's 15th-minute opener to rally from 2-1 down at the interval, with the Belfast-born winger a constant thorn in the visitors' side.

"As a team, I thought the lads performed brilliantly,” he said. “The coach keeps saying we've got excellent talent in the squad and that we hadn't shown it enough.

"But when we play like we did in the second half - that was unbelievable. I don't think anyone could stop us.

"I got on the scoresheet too, luckily. It was great for me to get my first goal."

Alan Stubbs' side have now picked up seven points from their last three games, having started the new campaign with a trio of successive defeats.

Kennedy admits the turnaround has been pleasing to be a part of, as the Blues now look to play catch-up with table-toppers West Ham United.

He said: "I wasn't here at the start, so I don't know what happened but the boys weren't getting results.

"We've got together since then and when we're on form, I think the team we've got is unbeatable.

Next up for Kennedy and the Under-21s is a trip to face Norwich on Monday 8 October.