{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
Everton defender Mason Holgate provides injury update as he eyes return against Tottenham
Everton defender Mason Holgate returned to training this week and is hoping to be part of the matchday squad for Saturday’s game against Tottenham.
Holgate featured in all four of Everton’s opening games before suffering a knee injury in the club’s 1-1 draw against Brentford.
The defender admitted it’s “going to be tough” to get back into Frank Lampard’s flourishing side, especially after Conor Coady and James Tarkowski’s frightening form.
“I’m good, I trained yesterday, obviously it was a lighter session with it being the day before a game,” said Holgate as quoted by Everton.com.
“So hopefully, I’ll get another week of training in and I should be available to be in the squad next week, hopefully.
“It’s going to be tough to get back in [the team] but that’s part of the challenge for me.”
Subscribe to Football Insider TV now
Right-back?
It’s fair to say that Holgate has no chance of securing a spot at the centre of the Everton defence, based on Coady and Tarkowski’s terrific form.
Nevertheless, the defender could be utilised better at right-back, Seamus Coleman has put in some decent outings in the absence of Nathan Patterson but Holgate is a younger and fresher pair of legs.
His pace and power could be the perfect combination for the Toffees in this position which means he can bomb up the pitch more often than he would centrally.
He’s still a very decent talent and despite some off performances last season, many Blues can admit he’d be suited well to a full-back position.
Whether Lampard deploys him there remains to be seen, but the former Chelsea man’s love to mix things up may play into Holgate’s hands in this one.
Holgate may be more suited to challenging Coleman for that right-back spot, so let’s see what happens in the next couple of weeks as options increase.