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In-form Everton midfielder, Alex Iwobi, says he never doubted he will succeed at Everton amid his difficult start on arrival from Arsenal three years ago, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Iwobi, 26, has been in top form this season, with his outstanding performances earning him a nomination for the Premier League Player of The Month for September.
“I feel like I’ve matured and, of course, I’m playing more centrally now than I was back then,” Iwobi told Everton Official Matchday Programme.
“I feel like my mindset has definitely changed from being more erratic when I was younger to now being more sensible and switched on. I think that’s really the only change, though.
“I’m the same person who just wants to go out and play football and enjoy it.”
Iwobi has been key contributor to Everton’s current chapter and, while there are no guarantees in football, there are certainly causes for optimism.
The 26-year-old has provided two assists in seven games for the Toffees, who sit 13th in the EPL table.
“It’s like you’re going to war – not just for yourself and the team, but you’re representing so many Evertonians,” Iwobi added.
“It’s crazy – the passion, the roar… It’s almost like war.
“It’s those moments you live for.
“The way they were turning up in such big numbers even to the training ground before games was amazing. That has an impact on you. It was incredible, it felt like a movie.
“It gave us that belief. We felt like if they believe in us, why shouldn’t we?
“That feeling has carried on into this season and there’s a proper togetherness between us, which we enjoy.
“Looking forward, we want to push on. We know we have the quality to achieve much more.
“I have the ambition to achieve as much as I can for this club, it’s a great club with so much history and we want to create more history.”
Meanwhile, Iwobi has been left seething on Twitter after the Super Eagles were denied a goal in their 2-1 friendly defeat to Algeria on Tuesday.
Terem Moffi opened the scoring for the Eagles but with the game still 1-0, he was quickest to react to a spilt long-ranged effort and then squared the ball for Ademola Lookman to tap into an empty net.
Surprisingly, the linesman’s ruled the goal offside and with no VAR in operation for a friendly, Nigeria had to accept the decision before going on to lose the game thanks to goals from Riyad Mahrez and Youcef Atal.
“One example… Really confused as to how this was disallowed for offside,” the Everton ace said.
Iwobi has been capped 60 times by Nigeria and has scored 10 goals.