Holgate believes Koeman has been key to Everton youngsters’ development

Mason Holgate claims Ronald Koeman’s mantra of ‘if you are good enough then you are old enough’ has given all the young players at Everton a real boost this season.

Holgate was a surprise inclusion in the Toffees’ first starting line-up of the campaign against Tottenham and he has gone on to make five appearances so far this term.

And the 19-year-old, who was signed for an initial fee of £500,000 from Barnsley in 2015, believes Koeman has helped the club’s youngsters impress.

Mason Holgate in action during the game with West Bromwich Albion. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Holgate said: “I am just glad I have been given chances to play. For him to say that if you are good enough, you are old enough is a big incentive for me and all the other young players pushing to get into the senior side. If you do well, you have a chance of playing.

“The senior lads have all been great with me as well. There are a lot of experienced pros in there, so to be training and playing with them is going to make me a better player.

“The aim now for me is to just keep going. I want to get as many games under my belt as I can and see what happens from there.”