Maitland-Niles stays humble after dream Everton debut, vows to fight for place

The 29-year-old came off the bench after joining from Lyon for 4 million pounds on transfer deadline day and produced an immediate impact, curling a superb effort into the top corner in the sixth minute of added time to secure a 2-2 draw.

"It is definitely up there with one of my favourite debuts," Maitland-Niles told BBC Radio Merseyside. "It is an indescribable feeling. Really emotional being out there and experiencing it first hand."

The former Arsenal player also described the result as feeling "like a win" after Everton twice came from behind and pushed United back during the closing stages.

"We deserved a point way before I scored," he said. "We showed fighting spirit and pinned them back and we just needed to find that little moment of excellence."

Despite his instant contribution, Maitland-Niles is taking nothing for granted as he settles into a new club.

Everton brought him in to address their long-standing problems at right-back following Seamus Coleman's retirement and Nathan Patterson's move to Torino. He is the only recognised senior right-back in a squad containing just 18 senior players, although midfielder Merlin Rohl has been filling in at the position.

Maitland-Niles expects to eventually establish himself at right-back but knows he must earn the trust of his new team-mates.

"It's a fighting team," he said. "If you're not a fighter here, they won't respect you. So, you have to earn your respect by fighting as much as they do - if not more."

His goal, timed at 95:11, was Everton's latest Premier League strike at their new stadium and made him the first player in club history to score from outside the penalty area on his Premier League debut.

The late drama has left Everton unbeaten, and Maitland-Niles believes the squad has enough quality to make the most of the season despite a difficult transfer window.

"We've got the quality in our team to be able to win games, come up with draws, show fighting spirit," he said. "We've got quality all over, so we can definitely do something this season."

Everton, who sit eighth, travel to Tottenham on September 12.

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