Everton's reserve team player of the year John Irving is aiming for a Premiership breakthrough next season.

The 18-year-old defender has been training with the first team squad, which has helped his game.

"I've just been getting my head down and I've been pushing on, and it's worked well for me," he told evertonTV. "I've started to train more with the first team which has helped me gain a lot."

Everton have progressed a number of players from the academy to the first team in the last couple of years, notably James Vaughan, Victor Anichebe and most recently Jack Rodwell.

He added: "It is faster, but I've started feeling more comfortable now because the lads get on with me and they help me on the ball."