Matthew Pennington may be unsure what the future holds but the Everton loanee is determined to make his mark at Ipswich Town and put himself ‘on the market’.
The 23-year-old, signed with just hours to spare before the closure of the loan market on August 31, impressed on his debut in the 1-1 draw with Norwich just two days after his arrival at Portman Road.
Pennington signed a new deal with Everton this summer which runs until 2021 but knows he faces a challenge to force his way into the Toffees’ first team and stay there.
MORE: ‘I think there is a lot more to come from me personally’ - Edwards on his start to life at IpswichHe’d love nothing more than to prove he is capable of rising to that challenge during his time in Suffolk but remains unsure just where his future lies beyond the end of this season.
“I’m open to things, I’m looking to play games so somewhere I enjoy it is where I want to be,” Pennington said.
“I hope to (return to Everton as a better player) but even if it’s not at Everton if I can become a better player and go somewhere else then that would be brilliant.
“For young players at Premier League clubs you go on loan, you play games and try to improve and that’s how you show people what you’re made of and put yourself on the market really.
MORE: ‘I handled it all quite poorly and wasn’t ready but I have no regrets’ - Bowditch on his football journey“It’s very tough for a young boy at a Premier League club to get opportunities and to stay in the first team, especially when managers are changing a lot.
“Each time a new one comes in you have to impress him, his staff and all the coaches and it’s not going to be you they look at first to improve the team when they have lots of money to spend.
“It’s really tough and that’s why you don’t see many young players get in the team and stay there.
“The way to do it at the moment is loans and proving your worth that way.”
Pennington is now on his fifth loan away from Everton, following spells at Tranmere, Coventry, Walsall and Leeds, with the defender seeing temporary moves as a way of growing up both on and off the pitch.
MORE: Tractor Girls grab a point after 17 minutes of added time following brawl“They are very important in terms of improving and playing games. That’s how you improve, by playing,” he said.
“Going out on loan and playing competitive games is very important and it’s a time where you have to grow up a bit, too.
“You move away from family and friends and have to quickly get used to living in a new city or a new town. That’s all part of the process.
“It was good to play at Leeds in front of big crowds and I took a lot from that experience.”
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