Thanks to Everton, Anton Peterlin has gained a year's worth of experience of the reality of life in English professional football. The amiable Californian has now come to Plymouth Argyle in search of the one factor which remained elusive last term – first-team action.

Peterlin was one of three American trialists who reported for duty at the start of the Pilgrims' pre-season training schedule this summer, and he is the only one left. The 23-year-old midfielder is spending this week with Argyle at their training camp in the Netherlands.

Peterlin was plucked out of the world of college and semi-professional soccer in the United States last year, when he joined Everton from southern California-based Ventura County Fusion. He spent last season working with the Toffees' first-team squad, and playing reserve-team football.

His one-year deal at Goodison Park was not extended, but he has not given up on his dream of forging a career in England. He played well for Argyle in their praiseworthy 1-0 win over Dutch top-flight side NAC Breda on Saturday, and he is fitting in well with the rest of the Pilgrims' squad.

"It's a great group of lads, and I've had a lot of fun," Peterlin said. "We work very hard together, we train very hard, and we got a good win today. It's gone very well so far."

Peterlin has the benefit of two very experienced agents, Barry MacLean and California-based Graham Smith, a former West Bromwich Albion player. They know Everton manager David Moyes, which helped to secure a trial and then a contract at Everton. They know Argyle's Peter Reid, Paul Mariner and John Carver, hence his chance to impress the Pilgrims.

When Peterlin was asked what he had learned from his year with Everton, he replied: "As a person, I learned to live so far away from home, and it changed me incredibly as a player.

"I was training with amazing players like Pienaar, Saha, Rodwell and Phil Neville every day. They push you, and they make you much better."

Peterlin is now hoping to use that experience to good effect with the Pilgrims, for whom he has featured in all their friendly matches so far this summer. "I've been happy with my games so far," he said. "I've been listening to the senior players, like Carl Fletcher, and I'm learning the style of play. It's going pretty well, I think."

Peterlin played at right-back, right-midfield and centre-midfield against NAC Breda on Saturday. "Centre-midfield is where I'm most at home," he said, "but I'll play wherever the team needs me to play. I'm enjoying being with this team."