James Tarkowski believes it is one of his duties to help his team-mates and says he is relishing the prospect of becoming an influential figure at Everton.
The 29-year-old's leadership qualities are well known and Blues boss Frank Lampard has already praised him for his work as a senior figure since his arrival from Burnley in the summer. Tarkowski sees both leading players and guiding them as key parts of his role.
Speaking after his debut for Everton against Chelsea, he accepts he has responsibility on his shoulders following his signing - though he added that pressure would not increase after injuries to both his centre-back partners in the narrow defeat to Thomas Tuchel's team.
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Asked about his place in the Everton squad, Tarkowski says he occupied a position that allowed him to take in the whole pitch and, as a result, offer advice to those around him. He said: "I am one of the older heads around here. It is quite a young side and I am fairly experienced, I have played quite a few games at this level now, so I feel it's part of my job to go in there and to try and lead and guide and help people. Especially someone in my position because I can see all the pitch, so it is my job and it is something I really enjoy."
Against Chelsea Jordan Pickford was handed the captain's armband in the absence of Seamus Coleman, who is continuing to recover from surgery over the summer. In Tarkowski, the England goalkeeper has another influential character in front of him.
The former Burnley man started alongside Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina, both of whom were forced off with injuries expected to keep them out of action for some time. It was a bitter blow for Lampard, who was greeted by an injury crisis as he tried to lead the club to safety last season and, on the eve of this season, lost striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the opening weeks of the campaign.
Asked whether their absence would increase the pressure on him, Tarkowski said: "I'm more disappointed for the lads to get injured to be honest. It didn't look nice for Ben, hopefully it's not too bad - and hopefully the same [that it's not too bad] for Yerry. There is no more pressure for me - I have got to go out there and perform. For whoever comes in and plays there it is the same for them. I'm just more disappointed for the lads who had to go off injured."
Tarkowski is confident the other centre-backs at the club, which include Michael Keane, Mason Holgate and Reece Welch as well as Coleman, who played in that role at the end of last season, will be able to slot into the side. He hailed Holgate's performance after the 25-year-old replaced Godfrey and offered impressive resistance as Everton dealt with a barrage of Chelsea corners.
Tarkowski said: "I think, if you saw through pre-season, we have chopped and changed with players in different positions. We are well drilled for people to come in and I think Mason showed that. He came on and I thought he slotted in really well."
Tarkowski could still challenge for the England World Cup squad and establishing a relationship with Pickford may boost his claims. While that remains an ambition for him, his priority is impressing his new club. He said: "I have just got to perform to the best of my ability and I think if I'm playing well and the team is there will be opportunities there for me. My main focus is that I have just signed for a new club and I want to perform and show what I am all about. That is what I have got to do and whatever the future brings we will see."
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