David Unsworth will be given at least four games to show he can become the permanent manager of Everton.

The Merseyside club confirmed this morning their U23 coach will take temporary charge of the Blues for the Carabao Cup visit to Chelsea, following the dismissal of Ronald Koeman.

In a statement, a club spokesman said: "Everton Football Club can confirm that David Unsworth will take temporary charge of the Everton first team, commencing with tomorrow night's Carabou Cup tie at Stamford Bridge."

But the Mirror understands Unsworth will be asked to remain in charge at least until the international break, which comes in two weeks.

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And that will see him take control for the crucial Premier League games against Leicester and Watford, along with a Europa League visit to Lyon that could prove season defining.

Unsworth will make clear that he would like a chance to prove he is worthy of the role full time, and there is a genuine feeling from Chairman Bill Kenwright and principle owner Farhad Moshiri that the long serving Everton stalwart deserves an opportunity.

They will now give the man who has guided the clubs U23s to successive trophies, and helped progress talent such as Tom Davies, Jonjoe Kenny and Dominic Calvert-Lewin into the first team, a period to show he can thrive at Premier League level.

Ronald Koeman was given the boot on Monday (
Image:
Action Plus)

Unsworth took over for one match - and won - back in May 2016, when Roberto Martinez was sacked, and he is highly regarded within the Goodison set up.

The appointment gives time for Kenwright and Moshiri to weigh up whether they need to make a move for a big name manager, with German golden boy Thomas Tuchel identified as their number one target if they go down that route.

Koeman was sacked because the Everton board felt they simply could not let him face the humiliation of a crowd that had turned so vehemently against the Dutchman any longer - but that means they did not line up a long term replacement.

Thomas Tuchel is also in the frame (
Image:
AFP/Getty Images)

Instead, Unsworth is seen as a safe pair of hands for the moment, and a manager who has shown enough potential to be given a fair crack at the job.

Koeman showed dignity as he accepted the reasons behind his departure in a personal meeting with Kenwright at the club's training groun, and he swiftly called a meeting with his squad to thank them for their efforts.

The search for a new boss began immediately afterwards, with highly regarded young coach Tuchel - who is available after leaving Dortmund following a disagreement last summer - first on the list of potential outside candidates.

Discreet contact has already been made with the manager's representatives, but Tuchel will not rush into a decision, with Bayern Munich still a potential destination at the end of this season, and Everton are realistic enough to accept that scenario would give them no chance of recruiting him.

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