Help fire yak attack
JOSEPH YOBO today called on his team-mates to give Ayegbeni Yakubu the ammunition that will help him plunder another impressive haul.
Graeme Sharp was the last Everton striker to enjoy back-to-back campaigns which yielded more than 20 goals - he scored 30 in 1984/85 and followed up with 23 the following year - and hopes are high that Yakubu can emulate the great Scot.
The Nigerian ended his first year on Merseyside with a return of 21, which helped the Blues secure a place in the UEFA Cup once again, yet Yobo feels his compatriot is more than capable of beating that total now he is fully attuned to life at Goodison Park.
But while Yobo has every faith in Yakubu's talents, he knows Everton's club record signing cannot do it all on his own and hopes the 25-year-old is given the service that will make him the scourge of Premier League defences.
"Yak is a natural finisher," said Yobo. "He came here last season and has done very well, so hopefully he can score the goals again this time.
"But we have to create the chances for him. He doesn't miss that many, so with Yak you know that if he gets his chance, he'll score one out of every two.
"When he first came here, he struggled a little bit because the Everton team work really hard and it's a big part of our game. I told him that from the beginning.
"He's improved a lot since then, and is adapting to everything which is showing in his game. I guess he wasn't running as much before as he does now.
"He's now used to the team and the way we play, so hopefully that can help him this season."
Though Yakubu has not yet scored in three appearances in pre-season, David Moyes and his backroom staff have been pleased with the condition he returned to training in and expect him to feel the benefit of the work he has done here in the United States.
Yobo is another member of Everton's squad who is playing catch up - he has only been back just over a week - but having made substitute appearances against Chicago Fire and Colorado Rapids, he expects to be ready for the Premier League opener on August 16.
"I didn't really have a proper rest but I feel I'll be ready for the new season," said Yobo, who has been doing extra sessions with Everton's fitness team.
"I played five internationals for my country and then I was running up and down trying to get my brother released. I didn't put on much weight.
"I'm back training now, I got 10 minutes on Wednesday, which was good and another 45 minutes on Sunday.
"After the PSV game (on Saturday), I should be very close to my fitness level. But I'm not too worried as there's still 10 days to go and I am sure I can be ready."
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