I've had to push myself and I've really matured.

It's Chelsea and you will always have competition for places here.

You have to work hard and your chances will come.

I love Everton and all I think about is playing for Everton.

I looked up to Rooney and he had played for Everton when he was 16 and I wanted to do the same.

My mum has always kept my feet on the ground and told me that if I carry on working hard it will pay off. I used to say 'If I play for Everton one day' and she would always say 'No, when you play for Everton.'

When I was younger I just used to get the ball and take on all the players because I was bigger and stronger. You cannot do that in the Premier League. You are playing against men.

It was when I came back from Leeds that things started to change. I went from being a kid to having to man up and going into a man's game.

I'm the type of player who takes risks, so every now and then I'm going to give the ball away. I just have to learn not to do it in silly areas of the pitch.

I'm not scared when I'm on the pitch.

It's not me feeling pressure, it's just me putting pressure on myself if I don't do my best, and I know I can do better.

Partying? I don't really think about that.

You need to cut a few things out if you want to be the best you can be.

You can always be more professional.

I know how important it is to take different tactics from different managers on board.

I feel like I am ready to understand every aspect of the game.

When I was at Everton, I went through a lot of up and down spells, lacking in confidence.

With each individual, everybody takes instructions in a different way.

The Premier League's the most competitive in the world.

I have turned 25, come into my own and focused on improving at day-to-day level.

I've matured, I understand the game much more, which can be natural as you grow up.

I'd like Everton to be known as the better team in Liverpool.

My approach to games is much better and I am going into games with the right preparation and I am more relaxed, rather than thinking about things too much.

We are not in the game to accept where we are at.

It was hard for me to leave because Everton were my boyhood club. I supported them from when I was a young kid.

When you go through the youth system you're always going in to do analysis work, looking at every way of improving and your coaches are always on top of you.

Some players are more fortunate than others to have coaches who are more focused on improvement.

I understand now the different games and the different approaches that you need to take at different times, with different styles of play.

I've got a defensive responsibility as well as trying to get goals and assists. I'm trying to do that.

You can never stop learning in football and I'm always trying to take little things on board that other players do.

Chelsea are always competing to win things and that was my thought to push myself and reach a new level.

I have got a lot of confidence in my ability now, and I feel like I am going in the right direction and this shows in my performances on the pitch. As a person I feel a lot more confident.

Everybody develops at different rates.

I have had expectations on me from a young age and I have dealt with them.

Mum has been the biggest influence on me.

You've seen players at Everton who have been built up but haven't made the grade.

As a youngster as I was a centre-half, I liked being on the ball and coming out from the back. I took chances so I got put in midfield and then I was playing all over the pitch so adjusted wherever I needed to play.

You play football to enjoy the game and the manager wants to be happy on the sidelines watching unbelievable football.

As a kid, I looked up to Gazza, and to Wayne Rooney because he came through at Everton. Zidane has been one of my favourite players and I was always watching videos of him.

I want to continue to improve season after season, which I think I've done.

Mum used to have my sister to look after, so I had to make my own way to training. I would get a bus to town and another one to Netherton. It would take about an hour.

I was always a good cook from my mum showing me when I was a young lad, but hiring a chef helped me to understand food better.

When I broke into the Everton side under Roberto Martinez, I was playing in the No. 10 role, and I had never played there before, so I was getting used to that role as a first-team player.

On derby day it's not down to form, it's on the day, who's prepared for the game and who wants to battle.

Each individual has their own pre-match ritual and pick off the menu. But I usually have a bit of pesto - either spaghetti or penne. On game-day I'll add a bit of meat to it and maybe some greens.

I've added a bit more composure on the ball and defensively got a bit cuter and improved in one-on-ones.

In my mind I always think positive.

I'll keep improving with more games.

If I do well at Chelsea, then the national team will take care of itself.

I signed as an 11-year-old for Everton. I broke into the Under-18s at the age of 14, then the reserves at 15, then I was in the first-team squad at 16.