Mason Holgate has spoken of his desire to play regularly for Everton and is aiming to ‘get as many games as I can.’
The young defender started the Toffees’ first three league games of the season and impressed at both right-back and centre-half, but he was soon consigned to the bench due to the return of Seamus Coleman.
Many Everton fans were impressed with what they saw from Holgate and are keen to see him feature more under Ronald Koeman, and the former Barnsley defender is confident that he can cope with the rigours of the Premier League.
‘I don’t feel any different in myself. I don’t feel out of place when I’m out there,’ Holgate told the Daily Mail. ‘I know if I’m needed or when I play I can do it at this level.
‘I’m just trying to get as many games as I can, showing people what I can do and hopefully break into the team. That’s what I’m aiming for now.
‘I started the season with a couple of games – that helped me out because it’s led me to know what to expect and to know what to do to get to that level so that’s helped me out. I think it’s been a good season so far and hopefully I get more games in throughout.’
Holgate has had to make do with a watching brief over the last couple of months but is still improving his game under Koeman; a man who he believes to be ‘one of the best defenders ever’.
The young Englishman is also learning from the likes of Coleman, Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams, and he believes there is a good blend of youth and experience at Finch Farm.
‘He (Koeman) knows what he’s talking about – he’s one of the best defenders ever,’ Holgate added. ‘When he’s talking to me about positional things and things I need to be doing it’s good I know that he knows what he’s talking about.
‘There’s a lot of experienced people that have been playing at the back and in and around the two positions that I play so that’s helped me out. Seamus (Coleman) helps me and speaks to me a lot and then you’ve got Jags (Phil Jagielka) and Ashley (Williams) who are two very experienced players as well.
‘It’s a good mix at Everton. There’s a lot of young lads but there’s also a lot of experience. When I was looking to the decision to leave Barnsley I was looking at people who’d been in my shoes before: Brendan Galloway, John Stones, who have had the same kind of decisions to make.’
