NIGHTMARE SCENARIO

OF ALL the clubs I’ve been at, Everton have been the best with their fans.

I’ve rung seven or eight fans, had a good chat with them, including one lady in the US who had been sat on a plane, ready to come to Goodison for the derby for her first-ever Everton game.

Then they announced lockdown and she had to get off the plane and didn’t make it. I gave her a call, spoke to a fan in Switzerland, some vulnerable fans and those feeling a bit lonely.

It actually gave me a boost because it reminds you what the club means to fans.

I went on BBC Breakfast and talkSPORT to promote what the club are doing in the community. The club’s community programme is so good. I spoke about mental health on the BBC because I think I understand that it’s easy to get down in times like these, but if you speak to people then it gives you a boost and can help change your life.

I received a lot of messages after that, even from Liverpool fans, saying how much they appreciated me talking and opening up on the subject.

IT WOULD be our worst nightmare for Liverpool to win the title on their first game back against us.

We have to make sure we’re ready and can beat them no matter what.

It would take Man City to lose to Arsenal first but even if that doesn’t happen we’ve got to do everything we can to win that game. The rivalry is huge. Our crowd are so important and play a massive part in helping us.

At Goodison, the way we start can be really important. If you put a tackle in early or get an attack going, they get behind you and it gives you an extra five per cent. It will be strange not having fans but it will be the same for everyone.