Mason Holgate shone during Everton’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Liverpool but, speaking to the Toffees website, the defender insists that he is still nowhere near his best.
Form, as they say, is merely temporary.
Just six days after enduring a miserable afternoon during Everton’s shock home defeat to Fulham, Holgate played like a man possessed in the heart of Carlo Ancelotti’s backline at Anfield.
Alongside the faultless Michael Keane and the commanding Ben Godfrey, the Yorkshire-born centre-back played a key role in an almighty defensive performance, helping Everton taste sweet success at the home of their arch rivals for the first time this century.
Although Holgate is not getting carried away just yet.
The 24-year-old knows that, if he wants to make good on his vast potential, error-ridden performances like the one against Fulham need to be eradicated for good.
“I am coming into it (form) a bit more. I am not where I’d like to be and hitting it consistently but I can only work as hard as possible,” explained Holgate, who joined Everton six years ago from Barnsley.
“I have not done too badly but am not near my normal standards. It is hard to come to the season part way through but I am feeling stronger and fitter now and am happy the way things are going
“Hopefully, I can keep it going.”
With so much praise coming his way, the fact that Holgate is keen to keep his feet on the ground and his head on his shoulders certainly bodes well for his development on and off the pitch.
Speaking to the Mail, former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch tipped the England U21 international to become a ‘top player’. Holgate, Crouch says, is ‘different class’.
But while his quality cannot be questioned, consistency remains elusive.
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