Lookman: “I feel more settled now”

Ademola Lookman believes he feels more settled now after admitting summer transfer speculation affected his game.

England Under 21s boss Aidy Boothroyd questioned Lookman’s focus after last months England’s U21 2-1 victory over Latvia, and speaking after a MOTM performance in England’s U21 7-0 victory over Andorra, Lookman admitted Boothroyd was right.

Lookman: “It’s very important (to hear criticism) because you can get caught up in this bubble. When someone tells you, is real with you and tells you the truth it allows you to think and bring yourself back to reality.

“He spoke to me about it but I’ve just tried to put it behind me and move forward. I’m at Everton and I will do my best and train hard.

“I did (think the comments were fair). I feel more settled now, the transfer window is behind me so I’m getting my head down and working hard.

“You want to play, that’s my objective, and I hope to do that soon. What’s out of my hands is out of my hands.

On being asked whether he can break into Everton’s first eleven, Lookman said: “I couldn’t tell you, I don’t know. There’s competition but I’m always in competition with myself. I can only affect what I can affect and that’s all I’m working on.

“I wouldn’t call it frustration. It’s just opportunity, I haven’t had as much opportunity as I would have liked and I need to keep going forward and working hard. I can’t just stop, I’ve got to keep going.”