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Everton are crying out for an upgrade at right-back, but they may already have the man for the job at the club.

On the chalkboard

Everton upgraded three quarters of their ageing rear-guard last summer, adding Lucas Digne, Kurt Zouma and Yerry Mina to the defensive ranks.

Seamus Coleman is the only one left of that iconic back-line led by Phil Jagielka, but the Republic of Ireland international has had a very poor season.

After missing the first part of the campaign with a foot injury sustained on international duty, he has looked a step off the pace in virtually every game, and has recently lost his place to youngster Jonjoe Kenny.

Kenny himself has not exactly impressed though, and a right-back is surely high up on the priority list for the summer transfer market.

However, Mason Holgate’s form on loan with West Brom suggests the youngster could be ready to step into Coleman’s shoes next season.

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The perfect loan move

Holgate was primarily a centre back at Goodison, as many felt he didn’t have the pace or technical ability to bomb down the wing as a full-back.

He has well and truly put that notion to bed though, wowing West Brom fans this weekend with a lung-busting run to earn his side a corner in the dying moments of a 1-0 win, which you can see here.

The 22 year-old has started all four of his Championship appearances so far as a right-back. He has one assist already, and averages a whopping 2.5 successful dribbles per game. To put that in perspective, Richarlison averages just 1.2 dribbles per game.

And while the youngster’s time as a full-back is improving his ability on the ball, he isn’t neglecting his defensive duties either, making a remarkable three tackles and 2.3 interceptions per game so far with the Baggies.

Holgate is far from a perfect right-back at the moment, but the versatile defender has all the physical and technical tools to be Coleman’s eventual successor, and his January loan move is playing out perfectly.