Jonjoe Kenny produced one of his best performances in an Everton shirt in the 3-0 win over Leeds on Saturday and has put his display down to a change in mindset.
The 24-year-old was asked to play in an unconventional left-back role in his first start under Frank Lampard but excelled in front of the Goodison crowd - even producing a couple of Cruyff turns, much to the delight of supporters.
Kenny has had to bide his time for Everton this season, with his appearance at the weekend being only his fourth league start of the campaign.
However, the full-back has revealed how he removed excuses from his training in order to force his way into the team.
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“I wasn’t playing but it was down to me (to regain my place), I looked at myself and changed a lot of things, I didn’t make excuses anymore and forced my way back in,” Kenny told evertontv .
“It was my mindset of, ‘I want to play for Everton’. I want to be the best player I can. I am a local lad but I want to show everyone what I am about.”
Kenny continued: “It is not just lying down and letting the bad times take over. I had a lot of lows and that is part of football – but those moments mean nothing when you are this high.
“I expected to be where I am now because I trained and had the mental focus to get where I want.
“I love to defend, everyone knows that – and I showed moments going forward (against Leeds), which I know I have. It is just having that confidence in myself to go and express that.”
Having spent time away from the club on loan, it appears the former England U21 international is keen to make the most of his opportunity under Frank Lampard.
The defender described his loan spell at Celtic last season as a “difficult period” on a personal level but admits it also played a role in his renewed mentality.
With Lampard now having had two weeks to implement his methods on the squad, Kenny has outlined the boost the new manager’s arrival has given the players around Finch Farm.
“The boss has been different class since he’s come in. Even when the result didn’t go our way against Newcastle, the way we bounced back is credit to him and the staff,” he said, speaking after Saturday’s win.
“They have been a breath of fresh air for us.”
"He has given me a lot of confidence. I want to express myself, I know what I can do, so it is going out there and believing in myself and doing what I am good at,” Kenny added.
“I think I can speak on behalf of everyone in the team, they have brought a lot of belief back into the players – and I think it is showing. It is only two weeks but you can feel and see the difference in the lads.
"That is nothing against anyone in the past – but it is all praise to the manager and staff for what they’ve brought in."
