Tom Davies says Everton’s consistency and clear patterns of play are aiding his development – and the midfielder is “finding my form and gaining a really good understanding of the game” in Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

Academy graduate Davies is steadily establishing himself in Everton’s side, starting six of the past eight Premier League matches.

He prompted Everton’s second-half-resurgence against Manchester United on Saturday, slipping a perfectly-weighted ball behind defender Harry Maguire for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to create the first goal for Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Davies is primarily operating in a deeper midfield role, demanding a combination of defensive discipline and forceful distribution.

The 22-year-old disclosed earlier this season he was studying teammate Allan’s mastery of the position, a revelation which tallies with a recent comment from Alex Iwobi, who namechecked Davies as the colleague who works hardest off the field.

“I am doing everything I can, I love playing footie and want to play at the highest level,” Davies told evertontv.

“Each day I have a chance to develop and I am going to put in as much work as I can.

“You can see on the pitch I am starting to find my form and get a real good understanding of the game.

“I am going to keep doing that [working hard] and it is paying off for me.

“I am always trying to get better and I want to produce performances of as good a quality as I can.

“They have been coming along in the past few games and the team is playing better, which helps.

“When we are doing well as a whole, like the second half [at Manchester United], it makes it a lot easier for me.

“You could see people really wanting to get on the ball and that gives me a bit more time and players to hit with passes.

“I have a lot of time to improve and am going to keep doing it as best as I can.

“I am still young, I have a lot of development to go but I am happy with how I am performing.”

Davies was accurate with 90.3 per cent of his 31 passes against Manchester United.

He completed four clearances and two interceptions and made three tackles.

The player, who has 118 Premier League appearances – and 138 across the competitions – is adopting a holistic approach to his improvement bid.

And he hopes the upshot is a consistent influence on games, with Davies sighting an opportunity to employ his passing to telling effect.

“I am trying to get myself stronger in the gym and focus in training and I watch clips to see where I can improve,” said Davies.

“I want to get every part of my game as good as it can be, whether that be in the gym, my knowledge of the game, or technically.

“You saw in the second half [at United], when we put a few passes together, we’re a much better side.

“First half, we didn’t do that at all.

“It was frustrating for me in the middle because I could see the space and there were opportunities to attack and hurt them and we didn’t manage to do that.

“We came out in the second half with a bit more confidence and taking more risks on the ball, created space and got three goals.

“That is how I like to play, with the ball.

“As much as you have to defend and work hard off the ball [in Davies’ deep-lying role], it is important how well you do on the ball.

“We knew we had to be better in possession in the second half, myself included.

“We started to put together a few more passes and that’s where the first goal came.

“From there, we kicked on. It was a good second half but there is always a chance to improve and get better as team.”

Everton’s next assignment is an FA Cup fifth-round tie with Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

“It is a massive game,” continued Davies.

“This was a good one for the lads to get that point.

“The spirit and fight and quality we showed, we will carry into the next game.”