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Demarai Gray has praised his defensive teammates Conor Coady and James Tarkowski for a shift in mentality within the Everton camp.

The two centre-backs have been key to the Blues boasting the second-best defensive record in the Premier League so far this season.

Gray spoke of the significant impact the pair have made since their arrivals in the summer.

Quoted in the Liverpool Echo, Gray said: "They have been brilliant since they have come in.

"They have experience and a real defender mentality and they are leaders as well, which is key for us. As an attacker it is nice to have that solid base behind me.

"We are going to have ups and downs but you have that sense that although things might not be going too well we still have the attitude and mentality in the side that we will be strong and together."

Another member of the defensive pack who has produced quality performances this season is Nathan Patterson.

The 20-year-old is currently away on international duty and Scotland boss Steve Clarke has revealed he received a call from Frank Lampard earlier this year about the young Glaswegian. 

Following the right-back's arrival at Goodison Park, Clarke revealed the Blues boss rang him for his opinion on Patterson, with Clarke encouraging Lampard to give the defender a chance in his Everton side.

Quoted in Scottish publication the Daily Record, Clarke said: "Obviously I worked with him at Chelsea so I know Frank quite well. We did have a little chat about it.

"About that time he was phoning up to say, ‘What do you think?’ I said, ‘If you gave the boy a chance to play he will do well for you’. But I am not going to take any credit for that. Nathan takes all the credit."

Finally, in transfer news, CalcioMercato reports that Everton could face competition in their pursuit of Shakhtar Donetsk forward Mykhaylo Mudryk.

The 21-year-old was linked with several clubs in the summer and the Italian outlet claims Liverpool have joined the race to sign the Ukrainian international.

According to football journalist Fabrizio Romano, as many as 15 clubs are interested in signing Mudryk in the January window, with Shakhtar valuing their stat asset in the region of £44million.