Andros Townsend admits he's at Everton due to the presence of manager Rafa Benitez.

The pair worked together at Newcastle United.

Townsend had two months playing for Benitez at Newcastle and in only 10 games with the Spaniard scored three goals and provided two assists.

“When you're young and a winger, you focus solely on when you have the ball at your feet," said Townsend to evertontv.

“What can you do when you have the ball?

“Rafa tried to get me to work off the ball, run in behind, come into the pockets, work back defensively.

“As you get older, the penny drops. At Palace, the penny dropped for me.

“I really grew up, I went from a boy to a man.

“I turned from an exciting player into a dependable player – I matured and became a great professional.

“I owe them a lot.

“I feel I am at my peak physically, at the best stage of my career.

“And, hopefully I can show the other side of my game, the crosses, the goals, and getting the shots in, as I did when I was younger.

“At Newcastle, he [Benitez] knew I could score from outside the box, he was trying to work on me running in behind without the ball and getting on the end of a pass to score goals, as opposed to doing it all myself.

“Hopefully, he can rediscover that goalscoring form I had at Newcastle and I can really start adding some numbers in both goalscoring and assists."