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Alex Iwobi is no stranger to being in the company of those with life experience.

And he always makes sure to listen intently to what they have to say.

On Tuesday afternoon, inside Everton's Finch Farm training ground, he is sat around a table of military veterans who are sharing their stories, showing off possessions and passing around old photos.

Iwobi, joined by Leighton Baines and Tom Davies, is spending time with members of the Aged Veterans' programme which is run by the club's charity, Everton in the Community, and he is taken with the “passion” with which they reflect on their years of service.

“Only Lord knows what they have seen and what they've had to do,” he said.

“It is not easily mentally but they seem like they are very strong and happy and comfortable talking about it.”

And the 23-year-old appreciates the value in listening to world-wise men because having spent five years under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, and now with Carlo Ancelotti at Goodison, he has been doing so throughout this time as a Premier League player.

The Everton manager would briefly join Iwobi and the veterans and tell stories about how his father, Giuseppe, had served in Greece, and would also take a keen interest in an old football boot one of the participants had brought with them.

“They are almost the same, thinking about it,” Iwobi says of Wenger and Ancelotti.

“They are both very patient, they are not men of many words but when they do say something there is a lot of wisdom. They are almost the same.

“They both like to play football, it is almost like I am working with the same man.

“It's not like I'm back at Arsenal with Arsene Wenger but it's almost the same philosophy and I can buy into it easily and adapt to his plans straight away.”

But, initially, the concern for Iwobi wasn't about wanting to be part of Ancelotti's plans, but being able to.

The Italian, having been confirmed as manager before kick-off, sat in the stands at Goodison to watch Everton play Iwobi's former club Arsenal.

But hopes of making an early impression were cut short after just 12 minutes.

Iwobi would miss the first six league games of the new manager's reign with a hamstring injury but returned to the starting line-up at Watford last weekend.

“I've never been injured before and I'm thinking 'why against Arsenal?' and 'why when there is a new manager watching?'” he said.

“'What have I done to deserve this luck?'. But I took it on the chin and luckily I have good team-mates, we have good staff, good family around me and so I was able to forget about it quick and focus on getting back as soon as possible. It was a minor set-back.”

He added: “Because I'd never had an injury before, I didn't know what to do.

“Even when I injured myself in the game, I tried to continue, but that is the worst thing I could've done. Everyone has had an injury in their time, so when I got back in they were all telling me what I should do, how I should cope with it, don't stress on trying to come back too quickly. It did help me and luckily I was able to recover quicker than usual.

“I was told six weeks but I came back after four.

“Touch wood it doesn't happen again. I felt a pop in my hamstring and I thought I could play on but I couldn't so it was weird but hopefully it won't happen again.”

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Iwobi lasted 65 minutes at Vicarage Road and hopes to retain his place in the XI for this weekend's game with Crystal Palace, which has been designated as EitC's birthday fixture, as the charity reaches 32.

And if he does start then he is not expecting any surprises with regards to his position.

“So far, in training, I have only been on the left,” he said.

“And the way he plays, it suits me, I don't have to stay out on the left, I can come inside and drift in so it does suit my playing style. But at the end of the day, it's what is best for the team and however I can help them what qualities I can bring to the team, and I feel Carlo is able to bring the best out of me.

“With me, wherever I'm told to play – right-back, centre-back but hopefully not! - I will still try and do my best. I'm enjoying it on the left so far.”

He is enjoying himself at the table of veterans too and the programme, along with the associated Veterans' Hub, aim to help ex-service personnel who are at risk of isolation.

So far, 650 veterans, aged between 26-102, have been supported with the transition back into civilian life.

For this particular group, EitC engages participants in activities such as reminiscence sessions, history sessions and trips to places of historical interest.

But they also offer those who have served in the military a chance to feel the comradeship and team spirit that so many of those who have served, talk about missing.

Iwobi is unable to fully understand what they have experienced or seen in the line of duty but he can at least relate to the importance of camaraderie within a squad.

He said: “We have a lunch and breakfast table and when I first came, I was sitting with Dom (Calvert-Lewin) and Tom (Davies).

“They are basically like Tom and Jerry, they are clowns. Everyone warned me about where I was sitting and sitting next to them but ever since sitting next to them, I have felt welcomed. But that goes for everybody, everyone has made me feel welcome, but particularly those two and Mason as well.

“They are non-stop (joking), they don't have an off button. But it keeps me entertained.

“They just do little things. One time at lunch, I'd gone to get my juice and my lunch was gone. I thought to myself: 'I've not eaten anything yet, where's it gone?!' It took me 10 minutes and I was about to get another plate but then they said 'oh here it is'. I was so hungry as well!

“I didn't get that treatment at school. They do little things like that and it annoys me, but it's a good laugh.”