Everton loanee Mason Holgate: I’m proving Southampton fans wrong
Everton loanee Mason Holgate believes he is beginning to turn his fortunes around at Southampton after a slow start with the Saints.
Having been pushed down the pecking order at his parent club last season, Holgate joined Southampton on loan looking for a new start. However, the 27-year-old featured in just three of Southampton’s next eight games, playing a total of 110 minutes and being backup to Jan Bednarek and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
The centre-back has since played the full 90 minutes in two of the Saints’ previous four fixtures and believes he is on the road to redemption with the fans.
Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: “I think I was written off after my first game here by the majority of people – I’m starting to prove them wrong.
“I believe in myself. Once I’m playing week-in, week-out I don’t think anyone has seen just how good I am.”
It was an extremely difficult start for the on-loan defender, who joined Southampton at the end of August before being deployed in Russell Martin’s side for a 5-0 loss to Sunderland.
Holgate admitted to struggling to adapt to the style of play, feeling like he was thrown into the deep end.
“It’s not been as smooth sailing as I would like it to be. I came in quite late and I didn’t have a pre-season really at Everton because I was sorting this (loan move) out and training with the kids.
“It’s a completely unique style of playing that, at the time, I didn’t understand. I remember thinking about 15 minutes in that I was over my head but it was too late, I was already on the pitch. I think it was 2-0 by the time I realised that.”
What’s the problem?
Holgate has now been dropped from the starting XI by Martin and Sean Dyche.
He is a gifted defender, or at least he was before the drop in confidence and self-belief. So many fans will be hoping that this is the comeback story that Holgate needs to rediscover his form, playing consistently for Everton between 2019 and 2022.
Is it just a case of giving him enough game time to reinvigorate himself as a defender? If so, are Southampton prepared to take that risk when he has been so poor when used in the squad?
It’s a tough ask, but one that the Toffees will hope Southampton can answer positively during the season-long loan spell at St Mary’s Stadium.
With a tough winter period coming up for the Championship side, it is quite likely that Holgate’s services will be called upon, and that will be the time for him to shine and prove to the fans exactly why he deserves a spot in the line-up as one of the most experienced players in the team.
In other Everton news, ‘What Are You On?’ – Keane, Wright, Neville and Carragher clash over prediction v Manchester United.