Conor Coady says he couldn't be prouder to now wear the blue shirt of Everton and described this month's Merseyside derby as the best atmosphere he has ever played it.
The 29-year-old, who started his football career with local rivals Liverpool, before going on to achieve success with Wolverhampton Wanderers, made a loan switch to Goodison Park - with an option to buy - on August 8 and has already established himself as a fan favourite with his leadership and organisation skills.
And the St Helens-born defender, who converted from midfield under Nuno Espirito Santo at Molineux, thought he had scored what would have been a winning goal against Liverpool just four weeks later, only to see the goal overturned on a VAR review. Despite the disappointment of his disallowed goal Coady revealed that the experience of playing in a game of such magnitude at Goodison Park was special in its own right.
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Speaking in an interview with Everton's official webiste, Coady said: "First and foremost I'm massively proud to be sat here in this kit. When I got the opportunity to come here I didn't want to turn it down and miss the boat. I had a couple of conversations with the manager. It was a little bit surreal. He didn't have to explain anything about the club to me because knew all about it anyway. I've grown up around this area knowing this football club and how big it is.
"But as soon as a spoke to him (Frank Lampard) I thought he sounds incredible. I wanted to be a part of it. I'll be honest, the last six weeks I had a Wolves were tough, because I love that club. But when I went back (for pre-season) I knew something wasn't right. I was training not with the lads he was working with.
"I'm 29. People say to me, 'you're moving because you want to be part of England'. It's not because of that. I want to go and help a football club. I want to push and drive and give the best of myself every day. When I got this opportunity it was something I wanted to take, because I couldn't be more proud to be sat here in this kit."
Coady was a picture of euphoria after he appeared to have given the Blues the lead against Liverpool in Premier League on September 3, turning home Neal Maupay's cross-cum-shot from close range. But the elation shared by him and the home supporters was cut short when a marginal VAR review chalked off his effort.
Coady said: "The derby the other week was the best atmosphere I've ever played in and I've played in some incredible big games. The atmosphere and how they pushed us, in terms of what we saw before the game, when we're driving in before the game, with the blue smoke, and then walking out before the game. This football club is massive. You know it from the outside, but you experience it 10 times more when you're in it.
"Good old VAR, hey? When the ball came in, I knew it was tight. I turned and looked at the liner and his flag was down. I thought, 'oh my God I've done it. We're there. We need to defend'. All I'm thinking to myself is what this would do for our football club going forward. I knew the feeling and what it would give to the supporters. It was like an out of body experience. A crazy moment, but then the VAR comes in and takes it away from you."
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