Everton have unearthed another defensive gem in the form of Mason Holgate, with Ronald Koeman hailing the youngster s big quality after starring in Saturday s 1-0 win against Stoke City.
Shay Given s own goal settled the match after a Leighton Baines penalty rebounded in off the head of the unlucky goalkeeper, but Koeman was pleased with how his team defended.
The Dutchman picked out 19-year-old Holgate, who joined the club from Barnsley in 2015 to follow the path previously walked by John Stones, for special praise after he won his individual battle with Stoke s dangerous attacker Marko Arnautovic.
It s very positive how Mason Holgate is doing, how he is developing himself and the game time he is getting, Koeman told Everton s official website.
He was part of the good defensive organisation. [Holgate] has big quality for a young player. It looks like he s very comfortable on the pitch.
Of course, he has the confidence of the manager and the rest of the players but you need to perform on the pitch and he s doing that.
If you play against Marko Arnautovic, it s difficult for a defender because he’s a good player. But I didn t see Arnautovic and that s a big, big compliment for Holgate.
Holgate has been named in the England Under-21 squad for an upcoming European Championships qualifier against Norway and is also delighted with his progress.
I m loving it, I m just happy to be playing, Holgate said.
It s what I hoped to do when I came here and for it be happening now is brilliant.
It was tough game [against Stoke]. They are a physical team.
At one point I thought it might just not happen because we had a couple of chances but fortunately we got the goal and then I thought we defended well.
