Jarrad Branthwaite insists he has plenty more to offer after his impressive display for Everton against Chelsea last week.
The young defender was one of the Blues’ standout performers as they battled their way to a point against Thomas Tuchel’s side at Stamford Bridge.
Everton boss Rafa Benitez was forced to field a youthful looking starting line-up due to injuries and illness.
But Branthwaite, and a number of his team-mates, produced immaculate performances to thwart the current Champions League holders on their own patch.
READ MORE: Everton transfer question as Vitaliy Mykolenko provides alternative to Lucas Digne
READ MORE: Richarlison makes Carlo Ancelotti claim and compares him with Rafa Benitez at Everton
After falling behind to Mason Mount’s opener, Branthwaite equalised for the Blues four minutes later when he turned home Anthony Gordon’s free-kick.
And the 19-year-old has now opened up on his determination to secure more first-team opportunities as he wants to showcase his potential.
“We defended a lot but I have a lot more to my game on the ball,” he told evertontv. “That will come as the team and myself have more confidence.
“I like to defend, as I showed against Chelsea. But I am confident on the ball and can bring it out from the back.
"As I gain confidence that will come out more in my game... [I consider myself] a ball-playing centre-back.
“I believe in my own ability and, hopefully, the performance against Chelsea, from me and the team, is enough [to impress the manager]. We were underdogs and that makes you want to go and show what you can do.
“With the players we had out injured, the performance was second-to-none and we showed what we were capable of doing.”
The goal capped off a surreal few weeks for the youngster, who, after joining Everton from hometown club Carlisle United in January 2020, signed a new deal with the club earlier this month.
And the youngster believes he helped repay some of the faith the Blues have shown in him with the goal, and is now calling on his side to build on the result.
He said: “I signed a deal which showed Everton’s commitment to me and I hope I repaid them with that goal.
“The result was massive, everyone to a man was superb, the team spirit after the game was unbelievable and we want to take that into the next game.
“Our reaction to going one down was good. We were breaking well throughout the game and had a few opportunities on the counter-attack, so I always felt we’d have a chance to get a goal and, thankfully, I put one in the net.
“I can‘t put into words the feeling of scoring in the Premier League, the best league in the world, and of doing it for Everton. I was just buzzing to be in the team and play against Chelsea but now I have to build on it.”
