Tom proved to be a big hit Down Under
Tom Davies is only 19, and can still count his Premier League starts on his fingers and toes. But he knew his life had changed forever when he was recognised at Ayers Rock in the summer.
He may have been 10,000 miles from his Merseyside home after treating his family to a visit Down Under, but it was a light bulb moment for the Everton midfielder.
“This Australian guy came up to me and asked me if I was Tom Davies,” he recalls. “It was surreal and it showed me just how much it means to play for Everton.
“I have a cousin in Australia. I took my mum and dad, my brother, his girlfriend and a close family friend out there. I probably wouldn’t have been able to do that before I broke into the team last season.”
Davies was one of Ronald Koeman’s big successes after he was promoted from the Academy to star in the senior side during the second half of last season.
However, the teenager had to take a step back when the club re-signed Wayne Rooney and splashed out big style on Glyfi Sigurdsson and Davy Klaassen, all of whom play in Davies’ position.
However, he is not daunted by either the stellar competition or the disappointing start his boyhood team have made to the campaign.
“We’ve had a lot of new signings and they are all quality players,” he says. “We just need to get them to gel.
“I never expected my career to be all roses, and it’s a challenge for me to show the coach and fans why I deserve a place.
“There aren’t too many negative ways of looking at it. It should push you on because the standards have gone up
“I’m definitely working on trying to get ahead of the players that were brought in.
“It’s always more difficult in your second season. I’ve figured that out this year.
“People say we’re all similar players, but I don’t agree. I bring a lot of energy and get around the pitch. It’s about finding a system that works.
“I grew up two minutes from Everton’s training ground and remember Wayne scoring his first goal at 16.
“It was kind of weird when he came back, seeing him there on the training pitch, but it’s quite natural now.
“It’s great for me because he helps me a lot. When I’m unsure of my performance he always has a chat with me.
“I accept it’s more difficult to throw young players in when results are not coming.
“If they don’t play well young players can sometimes go under, and that could be the end of it. It’s much easier to come into a team that’s doing well.”