Everton academy coach Keith Southern admits he has senior ambitions.

The former midfielder, who made over 300 appearances for Blackpool after starting out at Everton, made his return to the club in 2017, and has now opened up on his ambitions to manage a team in the near future.

The 38-year-old told the Blackpool Gazette: “I love my role at Everton. It's a fantastic football club with some amazing people.

“I'm learning every day with top coaches, learning new things all the time and trying to become that student of the game by taking everything in.

“I'm getting a fantastic grounding working with elite players and I'm in no hurry to leave Everton whatsoever.

“But I do have an ambition to manage at some point. That may come in the next six months, in the next six years or after that, I don't know. I'm perfectly happy as I am right now but I do want to manage.

“If I turn 55 or 60 and I've not taken that step and had a go, then I think I will regret it, so at some point I do want to manage.

“Obviously the timing has to be right, although I'm not sure it ever is in management.

“The club has to be right at that time, so there are a lot of variables to take into consideration but I do have a burning desire to manage."