Lucas Digne says Everton can capitalise on the unity at Goodison Park to achieve “something special” – and the Frenchman wants to improve the individual statistics which position him among the Premier League’s best defenders.

Digne has started 26 top-flight games this term and only two players in the division have delivered more crosses than the Everton left-back's 218.

He has the third highest number of assists [five] for Premier League defenders, too.

But Digne, who returned from a two-match injury absence to play Everton’s final game before football was suspended in March, is convinced he has the capacity to produce more for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

The 26-year-old’s view on his own contribution aligns with his ambition for Everton to grow into a significant force under serial-winning manager Ancelotti.

“We are building a very good project and can do something very special,” said Digne.

"We can do better than last year and maybe qualify for Europe this season.

“We have the fans behind us every time we play.

“And we have something special in the Club because we are a big family.

“We have to keep this mentality to do our best every time… we have very good players and in the past few years the Club has invested a lot.

“We eventually want to finish in the top four or five and in a few years be playing in the Champions League.

“The manager has big experience and he puts calmness in the team.

“He is very relaxed and close to the players and can give a lot to us."

Digne joined Everton from Barcelona in summer 2018 and crowned a magnificent personal debut campaign by being awarded the Club’s player-of-the-season prize 12 months ago

The 52 chances he created during a season when Everton finished eighth was the most of any defender performing in Europe’s top-five leagues.

He sat top of the table detailing crosses supplied by Premier League players, too, the former Paris Saint-Germain full-back’s 280 deliveries nine more than next-best Ryan Fraser of Bournemouth.

And Digne’s eagerness to surpass those figures, coupled with a desire to aid Everton’s advance up the table, is guarding against any dip in enthusiasm for his work despite being exiled from Club facilities since Everton’s USM Finch Farm training ground was shut down on 13 March.

“Everybody [in Everton’s squad] has the motivation to work, we all know we are lucky and have to stay fit and be ready [to play]," said Digne, who grew up idolising Brazilian Roberto Carlos and credits the wonderful former Real Madrid player for liberating full-backs to maraud forward.

“It is our job and it is a pleasure to run every morning.

“I am really happy with my second season, I started well but I can do better.

“You can do better every day and I work to do that.

"If you have a problem or something to improve, this is time to work on it and I do that.

"I want to perform and do better in every game."

Digne accepted a prominent role in Everton’s Blue Family campaign when he turned storyteller to read children’s book The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

He has had plenty of practice in the art, regularly reading to his young son.

And Digne, who echoed the views of a host of his teammates over the substantial impact of Blue Family, insists one upside to being compelled to stay at home is the opportunity for quality time with his first child, who turned one last month.

“I read a lot of books for my son, it is my job and I love reading for him,” said Digne.

“Those moments with your son are the best.

“It was a strange birthday for him [without family visiting] but one with love, which is the most important thing.

“We have to protect everybody and if you love them, you can’t see them.

“We have to take care of ourselves and our families and listen to the Government."

Digne continued: “It is really important for the players to keep contact with the fans.

“We want to help the fans, we have an amazing relationship with them, we are a big family in the Everton community.”