“It’s a bit overwhelming,” says Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after Everton debut

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall left over 50,000 fans impressed after making his debut for Everton in the 1-0 loss to AS Roma at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

One of the standout players on the pitch, he looked at ease pulling strings in the middle of the park, dictating play for David Moyes’ side and also created chances. Such was his impact on his maiden appearance that Dewsbury-Hall was greeted with an ovation when he was subbed off the pitch at the hour-mark.

“It all started from the reception that me and the team got. It was pretty overwhelming to be honest,” he said after the end of the game.

“It was a special moment for me. From that second, I was like: ‘Yes, I need to try show something for the fans and do what I can,’ and credit to them, it was an enjoyable moment.

“I feed off that energy. That’s what you want as a footballer, it brings out the best in you and makes you want to fight for the team – I’ve got scratches all over me.

“That’s part and parcel of it. I’m happy with that and hopefully that can continue.

“The result today is not the most important thing, it’s getting minutes in the legs for the team. But results will come, I’m 100% sure.

“I’ve grown up since I was a kid watching Match of the Day and you watch Everton every week on it playing and hearing the song before the lads go out, it’s iconic. It’s massive, I don’t care what anyone says, it’s a massive club.

“Everyone sees it, so it's a really nice feeling and I need to repay that now. They've put their faith in me, and I need to show them why they're giving me the nice reception. So, you'll have seen little glimpses from me today, first minutes, but there's way more to come.

“I am humbled to be here and I’ll never take that for granted, so every time I step on the pitch, you’re going to get the best version of me, whatever that is, whether it’s on the ball or off the ball, I’m just going to do whatever I can to help the team.”

Dewsbury-Hall’s performance against Roma also drew praise from his manager, who tried to rope in the player during the January transfer window, albeit unsuccessfully.

He is here now after the Toffees paid close to £29million, including add-ons. Dewsbury-Hall hopes that the club can get a few more players in before the transfer window shuts in a few weeks’ time. 

“We had the conversation that the manager wants to make a lot of signings. If it’s possible, then we would like to add a couple more.

“If it comes up and the club can do it, then they will. That will put us in a great position with the squad we’ll have with the depth and will catapult us nicely going into the Premier League.

“The new stadium was obviously a selling point to coming to this club. It would have been amazing to play at Goodison Park, I know how iconic that is, but the way the club is going with all this new stuff, it is exciting.

“It makes players go: ‘Wow, this is a project that hopefully in the next couple of years, starting now, is going to be exciting.’ When it came about, it was an easy decision.”

 

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