Mason Holgate says new Blues boss Frank Lampard is a breath of fresh air and his given him the confidence to try things that he ordinarily wouldn't.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed a sustained run in the starting XI since Lampard's arrival at Goodison Park, playing every minute of the first five matches under his tenure.
And in doing so worries about his future at Goodison Park beyond this season have been laid to rest.
Speaking with Everton's matchday programme ahead of the FA Cup tie with non-league Boreham Wood, Holgate said: “To be honest, I’ve not felt that level of confidence in me for a long time.
“I would never criticise anyone who has been here before, they worked hard and made the decisions they thought were best for the team.
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“But it goes back to those big parts of my time here when I’ve gone into games thinking, ‘If I don’t get a clean sheet or play out of my skin, I won’t play next week’.
“It’s been a bit more relaxed with this manager, I can play my game, and, hopefully, keep doing well for the team.
“I feel I have had more support to show what I can do – and consistently playing games in my position is a huge help because I can get settled and know what I am doing.
“It is clear we are playing out a bit more and that is more geared up to my style of playing.
“You want the confidence to know you can play – if you make a mistake, you know he won’t think, ‘That’s it, he’s not good enough to do this’.
“To have a manager who believes in you, and if you make a mistake, says, ’Keep going, keep going’, rather than, ‘Don’t do that’, is a breath of fresh air and gives us the confidence to try things.”
Holgate has made 106 Premier League appearances for Everton since joining from Barnsley in August 2015, but has found his opportunities limited this season until Lampard's arrival.
The Yorkshireman made a good first impression with ex-Chelsea start Lampard by scoring his first goal in 13 months against Brentford in the FA CUP Fourth Round - Lampard's first match in the Goodison hot seat.
Holgate is under contract with the Blues until 2025, but after falling out of favour with Rafa Benitez, he admitted to considering a move away from Merseyside to resurrect his career.
He said: “Everton is all I’ve known as an adult and it was going to be a very difficult decision.
“But if I didn’t think I was bringing anything to Everton, I’d feel I was hindering the club and wouldn’t want that and I’d believe I could give something elsewhere. No matter how much you love one club, it is a short career.
“I could sit back when I am 40 after not playing many games and Everton would still have that big part of my heart, but I’d think, ‘Did I get the maximum from my career?’
“I’d be saying I was happy to sit there and be a spare part. That is never something I’d want to do. I became a footballer to play football.”
