Jake O’Brien has lifted the lid on his early struggles as an Everton player.
O’Brien found himself heavily underused in the months following his £16.4 million arrival from Lyon, making just four outings prior to Sean Dyche’s exit.
The Republic of Ireland international has since enjoyed a renaissance and featured in all eight games of David Moyes’ second spell back at the helm.
But O’Brien insists he had no regrets about joining the Blues despite revealing he held talks with Moyes’ predecessor over his sparse lack of involvement.
He said: “I wasn’t happy that I wasn’t playing.
“I had conversations and I wasn’t happy for those few months. I worked hard in training and when my chance came, I think I took it.
“Look, it is football, some managers like [you] and some managers don’t. It’s a game of opinions. I think the old manager didn’t like the way I played.
“But the new manager has seen something in me [and] give me a run of games.”
Moyes has deployed O’Brien predominantly at right-back since succeeding Dyche but the central defender admits he relishes the challenge of the role.
“It’s great to be playing and contributing to the game,” he added.
“As long as I’m playing, I’m happy, and we’re on a good run of games. We’ll try and bring that into the game on Wednesday.”
“It’s different [playing at right-back], but I’m growing into it.
“I’m learning more about it, and all the coaches and Moyes have been very good in explaining how they want me to play.”
Everton were denied a controversial late penalty in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United which still extended their unbeaten run to six games.
O’Brien, however, believes that referee Andy Madley made several in-game mistakes beyond overturning the decision for the foul on Ashley Young.
“It wasn’t just the penalty at the end,” he insisted.
“I think there were a lot of decisions that didn’t go our way that on another day, would go our way. But today he made a lot of wrong decisions.
“It’s a point, and we haven’t lost in a few games, but it does feel like a loss because we were the better team.”