Everton defender Mason Holgate is hoping to secure a permanent deal with West Bromwich Albion. The centre-back, currently on loan at the Hawthorns, is enjoying life in the Midlands as he attempts to help the Baggies in their bid to return to the Premier League.

His contract with Everton will come to an end in the summer and there is little prospect of him remaining with the club after a difficult few years that have seen him struggle for opportunities.

Holgate started West Brom’s draw with Stoke City on Saturday and, after a slow beginning to life on loan, has become a regular in the backline.

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Whether that remains the case with Tony Mowbray returning to manage the club remains to be seen but the 28-year-old is keen to keep his place and win a permanent contract.

He said: “It’s been a difficult couple of seasons and my contract at Everton ends at the end of this season. I’m on loan at West Brom until the end of the season, so I just want to play as much football as possible and put myself in the shop window. Hopefully I get an opportunity to stay here and go up.

“That’s the ideal plan, but if not, then I just want to enjoy playing regular football, it’s especially tough when you’re not playing. That’s what it’s all about. I’ve not played a lot for a couple of seasons, so to be back out there playing regularly is obviously something I’m really enjoying. I want to keep doing that."

Holgate’s last game for Everton came as a substitute in the opening day defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at the start of this season. Last year he went on loan first to Southampton, then to Sheffield United.

Now, his mind is focused on the future and that means doing everything he can to lead West Brom, currently in sixth and therefore the final Championship play-off spot, to the top flight.

He told SportsBoom: “I’d bite your hands off now if I scored the winning goal and we won promotion. Not even the scoring bit, I’d take going up above everything else.

“II think it’s something we’re capable of as a squad, the quality is there, but it’s about getting those wins on the board and hopefully we can benefit from that.”