Adkins Excited By Everton Trip

Birkenhead-raised Adkins spent time with both Everton and Liverpool before signing professionally across the Mersey with Tranmere Rovers.

And the gaffer says he is looking forward to sampling the Goodison Park atmosphere on Saturday – but, more importantly, he's keen to ensure Saints continue the run of form which has taken them to back-to-back victories over the past week.

"I don't think Southampton have beaten Everton for over ten years now, so it'd be nice to buck the trend on that one," Nigel said ahead of the trip north.

"I'm looking forward to it because it'll be a great atmosphere. 

"There are three teams on Merseyside: Liverpool, Everton and Tranmere. I played for Tranmere as an apprentice and professional, and I used to stand behind the goal and run on the pitch after the game to get Ronnie Moore's tie-ups so it's great to see Tranmere doing so well with him in charge at this moment in time. 

"And I remember going to one of the [Merseyside] derbies – I watched several of them. I was a schoolboy at Liverpool but before I signed for them I had a couple of weeks at Everton, and then I went to Tranmere after that. 

"Goodison Park is a real challenging place to go. I'm from Merseyside so I've been there on numerous occasions, and you know that the supporters there are very passionate and they demand their players do well.

"It's a tough game but one we're looking forward to," he surmised of the match-up with the Toffees, who sit third in the Barclays Premier League table after kicking off the campaign in excellent form.

"Everton have probably had the best start they've had for many, many years – David Moyes has done a great job having been there for ten years now, and there's a stable working relationship between the chairman and the manager. 

"There's a continuity with the players and they know how they want to play – and they are very, very effective. I think they're going to be right up there at the end of the season."