In an exclusive column for evertonfc.com, Michael Keane discusses becoming a father, the goalscoring form in training that preceded his winner at Norwich City and how his friendship with Mason Holgate is helping the pair form a strong understanding on the field...

It’s been an amazing week for me.

I became a father for the first time on Tuesday after my little daughter was born. It was such a special day.

And to then score the winner in our game against Norwich just topped it off.

As you might have heard, the manager said to me before the match that new dads usually score, so I was happy to prove him right!

I’ve been knocking in a few goals recently in training, a lot with my feet, actually!

I’ve also scored some with my head, the day before games when we work on set-pieces.

I’m feeling confident in front of goal at the minute. Against Norwich, it was a great ball in by Lucas [Digne] and I just glanced it in.

I was delighted to score and help us get the three points on the road. It was a massive win for us.

On the whole, we’ve had a very positive return to Premier League football.

Two clean sheets are what you want as a defender and we’ve been working really well as a team right from the front.

We’ve been solid and we’ve worked very hard

I’ve been playing alongside Mason [Holgate] at centre-back and I think we’ve done well together.

He’s been brilliant.

He’s really easy to talk to and we’re good mates off the pitch, so that probably helps.

We talk a lot during games and we try to organise as much as we can. It’s been great.

Yerry [Mina] is back from injury, too, and he has done really well when he’s played this season.

Competition is what you want in every position. It brings the best out of people.

The manager has rotated quite a bit so we’re all getting our fair share of games. I’m sure Yerry will get his chance again when he’s fit and I’m sure he’ll be ready.

We’re back at Goodison Park on Wednesday when we face Leicester (6pm).

It’s another massive game. Leicester have looked good this season, so it will be a tough test.

But we’ll be ready and, if we can win that, it’ll put us in a good position.

Qualifying for Europe is the target. There are seven games left and a lot of points to play for.

If we can keep getting wins we’ll get closer and closer and then hopefully move into one of those qualification spots. That’s definitely our aim.