Everton have reportedly offered Jose Baxter a surprise return when his drugs ban expires.
Baxter is currently serving a year-long suspension after testing positive for cocaine during a failed drugs test while at Sheffield United in February last year.
But the Blues are preparing to offer the 24-year-old a chance to revive his career with the incentive of a 12-month contract when the ban is set to run in June.
The midfielder will work within the club’s under-23 ranks from which he had originally graduated when he became their youngest-ever player in 2008.
Should he impress with David Unsworth’s side, Baxter could be promoted to the first team following the gesture by Everton chairman Bill Kenwright.
“I’m speechless,” he told The Times.
“Not many people get a second chance and here’s me with a third chance.”
Baxter originally left Everton at the end of the 2011/12 season, having made 15 senior appearances before he was released by the club he had joined aged six.
His current suspension was a second for Class A substances after he was handed a five-month ban by the Football Association for testing positive for ecstasy in 2015.
“It can be anything he wants it to be,” said Unsworth.
“As soon as he comes through the gates of Finch Farm in July, he will be treated like an U23 player and we work very hard.
“He will be given the same opportunities as everyone else. If that means he moves on to a Championship club or League One club later on, that will be down to Jose.
“We want to help because that is the sort of club we are. He is one of our own, but I have said to Jose, in no uncertain terms, that this is your last chance.”