An exclusive interview with full-back Nathan Patterson headlines a bumper matchday programme for Everton’s Sunday afternoon clash with Manchester City at Goodison Park.
Patterson discusses his journey from boyhood club Rangers to Merseyside, how he has set out a path to keep improving with the Blues, his relationship with "top guy" Seamus Coleman, and his gratitude for Evertonians’ support.
Pick up a copy of the programme, priced £4, around the ground or, alternatively, click here to order a copy online.
Keep reading for a sneak preview...
Discussing grasping opportunities, Patterson explains: “I don't necessarily feel a pressure to perform, it's more just the pressure of the game itself.
“My mindset is more about going out there and performing to my capability. You put pressure on yourself to go and be your best.
“When you're playing in the Premier League there's going to be pressure and you're going to come up against top players every week so you have to enjoy it and thrive off that.”
Work that has gone into adapting to professional life south of the border has been thorough — and ongoing.
Patterson’s frame has changed significantly after putting on more than five kilograms of mass since joining Everton 16 months ago.
He remains tall, athletic and quick, though, despite creeping into a cruiserweight boxer threshold at 80kg.
It was a personal goal he had set prior to making the move but, now sitting at his target weight, he insists work to maintain that level is equally important as the journey to reach it.
“When I first came I was between 74kg and 75kg and now I'm sitting around at 80kg,” he reveals. “I’ve worked really hard in the gym and I made sure I spent the time I've been out injured wisely in that respect.
“I’m up to where I want to be and it's about maintaining it now. Me, Davo [Tom Davies] and Dwighty [Dwight McNeil] have got a wee gym club going at Finch Farm, working on different aspects and making sure we're all ticking over to be in the best possible shape.
“The work is every day. You have to make the most of every day.
“I’ve been work closely with the Sport Science team here as, of course, they know a lot more than me about it. So I've been taking as much advice as possible and it's been working, so I'm going to keep at it.
“Diet as well. You have to eat a lot of the right things and there's amazing food here. We're well looked after and given everything we need to be eating. You can't just rely on that, though. When you go away you have to keep that up. It's tough living alone sometimes but I cook for myself when I need to, as well as taking things home from the training ground.
“When I was younger I always used to cook with my dad. He's a good cook. He taught me a few things when I was younger and you kind of pick things up as you're going. I'm getting used to that side of living alone — cooking and cleaning and that sort of thing. It's part of moving out, growing up and becoming independent. I've enjoyed that."
Elsewhere in the matchday read, Jose Baxter is the subject of an in-depth former player interview.
The former forward reflects on a rollercoaster playing career having come through the Blues' ranks and working relentlessly to repay the faith of the Club after handing him a second chance.
Idrissa Gana Gueye also features, discussing the detail behind Everton's improving fortunes under manager Sean Dyche, amongst other topics.
There are the usual manager and captain's notes from Sean Dyche and Seamus Coleman respectively, while Michael Keane is the subject of The Lowdown feature.
For all of this and more, pick up a copy of the programme around the ground on Sunday, or click here to order a copy online now.
