Lewis Dobbin has vowed to keep taking opportunities to impress manager Sean Dyche and admitted he has “loved’ being back at Everton.
The attacker spent the 2022/23 campaign with Derby County, making 54 appearances and registering 11 goal contributions (five goals, six assists) in all competitions for the Rams.
The 20-year-old returned to Everton this pre-season and has impressed, first notching 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw at Tranmere Rovers and coming off the bench in each of Everton’s three friendly and two Premier League matches since.
He was introduced to the action at half-time in Sunday’s defeat at Aston Villa and revealed it was good to get more senior minutes in the bank, even though the overriding emotion was one of disappointment at full-time.
“Yes on a personal note, it's a positive to be getting more minutes in the Premier League,” Dobbin told evertontv. “But as a team, and as a collective, we were not at it against Aston Villa. We've got to go into this week with our heads held high and hopefully go again.
“Obviously, the main thing is the result and how the team has performed. So that was disappointing. But on a personal note, I didn't feel out of place when I was out there. That's a positive. But now I need to keep improving and getting more minutes.”
Dobbin was a bright spark for the Blues in the second half and finished the game having attempted more take-ons (five) than any other Everton player.
His performance also drew praise from manager Sean Dyche in his post-match interview with evertontv: “I think Dobbo has been excellent all pre-season. He is knocking on the door, he was anyway.”
The forward acknowledged it’s pleasing to get such praise from the boss, but believes the onus remains on him to keep impressing to secure more regular senior minutes for the Blues this season.
“I just need to keep working hard on the training pitch and trying to impress the Gaffer," he continued. "Hopefully, I keep getting chances and when I do, I have got to take them. But that's down to me to get more.”
Although it’s not been the start to the season that Everton were hoping for, Dobbin, who has been at the Club since the age of 11, admitted he’s thoroughly enjoying being back in royal blue and believes he’s a much better player thanks to his experience at Derby last season.
“I have loved it to be fair [being back],” he revealed. “It's always great coming back to your home club and the club you have been with your whole life. That's a positive.
“I think I have come back with a lot more experience in the men's game. Hopefully, I can take that into training and keep going”.
