Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels admits that he fears for the long-term future of Matthew Kennedy.
The 17-year old striker signed with Everton last week despite only recently breaking into the Killie first team and Shiels believes departing Rugby Park too early could halt his development.
"I really would've liked him to stay to get some more proper development," said Shiels.
"Hopefully, he'll succeed; I really want the boy to do well, that's important to me.
"Having had two years' experience behind him would be ideal.
"If you draw parallels and make comparisons of all the players that have gone down to the English Premier League, 95% of them have had a spell in the SPL first.
"Steven Fletcher, Gary Caldwell, the two lads at Hamilton and Steven Naismith: they've all served their apprenticeships in the SPL.
"I feel that, the type of boy Matthew is, I really would've liked him to stay to get some more proper development here in a development programme, rather than thrown in to the rigours of the English Premier League."
