Mason Holgate says he is “blessed” to be surrounded by family right now – and Everton’s Blue Family campaign is a “massively important” initiative for those experiencing isolation and loneliness following the coronavirus outbreak.

Defender Holgate called 92-year-old Evertonian Alex as part of the Club's Blue Family campaign last week and echoed the thoughts of teammate Michael Keane when he said players are drawing inspiration from talking to supporters.

Alex told Holgate he was Everton’s “most improved player” this term, a view which won’t find many dissenters at Goodison Park after the 23-year-old delivered a string of imperious performances to establish himself in the middle of Carlo Ancelotti’s back four.

Holgate is living with parents Tony and Julie during his period away from football and training twice a day to ensure he is “ready to go… as soon as we get the nod”.

But the player – in regular contact with his Clubmates via FaceTime and WhatsApp – admits his immediate concern is for those without a ready support network

“It is a difficult time but I am blessed to have a family to come back to,” said Holgate.

“It will be more difficult for people who do not have that – and that is why the Blue Family campaign is huge.

>>>DONATE TO THE BLUE FAMILY CAMPAIGN AND FIND OUT MORE BY CLICKING HERE<<<

“If I have a day off and am alone I get very bored and don’t know what to do with myself.

“To be in the house by yourself for a period of weeks I understand would be really difficult.

“It is brilliant what Everton are doing and massively important.

“It was great speaking to Alex.

“He is isolated for 12 weeks – he can’t see his son – and that is difficult for anybody.

“It was good to hear him in good spirits and listen to him talk so happily about Everton.

“He was so on the ball and from someone who has seen so many games, it was really nice to hear [Alex’s opinion on Holgate’s development].

“It [the conversation] was heart-warming and made me feel good, too.”

Holgate is “happy” with his progress this season, coming in from the cold to start 22 of Everton’s past 23 games and sign new five-year terms with the Club.

Equally, the centre-back, who came to Everton from Barnsley in 2015, never lost faith in his ability to emerge as an influential figure for his team.

Holgate’s self-confidence, however, is matched by his self-awareness. The former England Under-21 internaitonal admits he has ample room for improvement – and reckons he couldn’t have a finer tutor than Italian manager Ancelotti.

“There’s things he’s told me... which are making the game easier for me,” said Holgate, who admitted the room fell silent when Ancelotti asked his squad who remembered the former AC Milan midfielder’s decorated playing career.

“He has helped me massively… and the team has improved massively under him.

“If he says something, you know he has done it all before and it will be right.

“When someone like that comes in… you are thinking, ‘How is he going to see me and us as a team?’

“As a man he is so kind but when he gets his point across it is clear and everyone knows their roles.

“I have made a massive step this season… I always believed I could but I had to show it.

“But I don’t feel I have over-performed.

“It has been a level I have been happy with but I have to keep making strides forward next season.”

Everton’s USM Finch Farm training ground was shut two weeks ago today, leaving the Club’s players to train remotely.

And Holgate is incorporating his sessions into a daily routine he hopes will be consigned to history sooner rather than later.

“I have breakfast, then do my workout – but I keep myself doing things through the day,” added Holgate.

“I do my cardio training in the morning and gym in the afternoon.

“I use the exercise bike or might go on a little jog.

“Some days I will do a continuous time on the bike, others I will do intervals.

“You are trying to maintain different types of fitness.

“[In the gym I will] do leg and upper-body strength,

“You know what your body wants and needs to be ready to go again.

“You miss being round the boys but we are lucky that we live in an age where we can communicate quite easily.

“Everyone is going through the same thing.

“Football is not the most important thing at the moment – it is people’s safety and people’s health.”

Everton last week began its Blue Family campaign designed to provide assistance and support for the most vulnerable, isolated and at-risk members of society across Liverpool and beyond.

>>>DONATE TO THE BLUE FAMILY CAMPAIGN AND FIND OUT MORE BY CLICKING HERE<<<

Blue Family has also seen the Club and charity introduce a referral form enabling fans and the wider public to refer people they believe might need a friendly voice to speak to at this difficult time.

>>>CLICK HERE FOR THE REFERRAL FORM<<<

During the coronavirus pandemic, people are reminded to stay at home to support the NHS and help save lives. For full details of the Government guidance, visit here.