Nathan Patterson believes consistent work at Finch Farm under the guidance of Sean Dyche will be the key to unlocking his full potential.
The 21-year-old full-back enjoyed an eye-catching run in the team in the final month of the season in the absence of captain Seamus Coleman, before suffering a hamstring injury in the penultimate game of the campaign - a 1-1 draw at Wolves.
He made 21 appearances for the Blues across last term, as well as adding five international appearances for Scotland to take his cap tally to 13.
Now, looking ahead to the future, Patterson says he is in the ideal environment to build on a promising platform.
"I know what the manager wants from his players and his full-backs, especially," he told evertonfc.com. "It's important to know how he wants us to play and what he wants from me.
"We quickly learned how he likes to work and how he keeps things level. You see it more after a positive moment. When you win you're happy and on a high but as soon as it's done, he's moving on to the next one and focus turns quickly.
"One win doesn't mean you're going to stroll into the next and get three points - and it's good to have that mindset because it keeps standards high.
"It goes both ways - after a defeat it means we stick together and keep working in the same consistent way."
Signing a five-and-a-half year contract with Everton upon completing a move from Rangers in January 2022, Patterson had already enjoyed a lightning-fast rise through the youth ranks into senior football.
Joining Rangers as a right winger, he was pushed into a right-back role when games turned to 11-a-side and admits the new position suited him immediately, with the prospect of one-versus-one defending particularly appealing.
Impressive senior breakthroughs at club and international level came while Patterson was still just a teenager.
He had to bide his time after completing a switch to Goodison Park, though, and says he has since gained six kilograms of muscle in a bid to optimise his frame for the rigours of Premier League football.
Reflecting on the differences between top-flight football in England and Scotland, Patterson explains: "You see more quality. The speed of the game is a lot quicker and each game is closer.
"It's a lot harder to win a game in the Premier League because every side has so much quality. That's the pressure that comes with it.
"You have to be at your best to get the upper hand on someone and come out on top of your individual battles.
"I'm still young and still learning but I'm playing against these top players and it can only make me better.
"I work hard with the coaching staff. There's preparation in terms of watching videos and that kind of thing, watching how your opponent plays and trying to pick up tips to stop them.
"When it comes to the game you have to be fully focused to compete with players that are up there with the best in the world."
Nathan Patterson was the subject of an in-depth feature interview in the Official Matchday Programme towards the end of the 2022/23 season. Click here to view the feature in full now.
