Everton winger Dwight McNeil has revealed he found it “pretty difficult” to settle into life at Goodison Park when he first joined the Blues, but insists that he now loves going in to training every day.
The 23-year-old made the move to Merseyside from Burnley back in July, in a deal worth a reported £20 million, but has since struggled to nail down a place in Frank Lampard’s starting XI.
A brace against Dynamo Kyiv in a pre-season friendly got his Everton career off to a flying start, but the attacker admits that he initially struggled to adapt to his new surroundings.
McNeil stated, “At first I think I struggled a little bit and I found it pretty difficult to settle in. I only knew one or two of the players, but over time I have settled in more now and I’m enjoying it.
“I go in every day and I come back home enjoying it.
Like I say, at first it was a struggle as you don’t really talk or know anyone, but now everyone makes you feel welcome.
“But now I love going in and everyone is so close there [Finch Farm] and it is good to have that togetherness that we have in the changing rooms.”
Goals against Southampton and Crystal Palace, when McNeil exchanged an excellent one-two with Alex Iwobi, have provided Everton fans with a glimpse of what the new signing is capable of, but overall, he has yet to fully deliver in a blue shirt.
With the Toffees feeling the loss of the influential Richarlison in attack, there is a lot of weight on the shoulders of the former Burnley man, and hopefully as he continues to settle into life at Everton, we will see the best of him.
However, with increasing levels of frustration at Goodison Park following the Boxing Day defeat to Wolves, we could do with a good run of form from the winger sooner rather than later.