What The Papers Say - Feb 2

Thursday's newspaper round-up.

The views on this page are taken from the local and national media and do not necessarily reflect the views of Everton. 

Darron Gibson has vowed to make his spectacular winner against Manchester City the first of many for his new club.

The Everton midfielder admits his first goal for Everton couldn't have come against better opposition that his former club Manchester United's bitter local rivals.

But he has promised that is only the start as he reaches peak match fitness and begins to show the Goodison support exactly what he is made of.

"My last goal was the Champions League semi against Schalke, It was a while ago, I haven't got one for a long time really," he admitted.

"So I was certainly very pleased to score against City, and I'm just delighted to get my first goal. I was a bit frustrated in the last few games because I didn't really manage many shots, but I'm buzzing it came against City.

"I'm gradually getting into things now. I think my fitness has a lot to do with that. I wasn't match fit when I arrived, but it's coming. I'm getting fitter and fitter with every game. Hopefully I can kick on from the goal against City."

Gibson is revelling in the opportunity he has been given at Goodison, and despite his obvious affection for former club United, he admits it is a major boost to his career to be playing every week.

"It is nice to know I've got a chance of playing every week, rather than knowing that I haven't got a chance to be playing to be honest!" he admitted.

"I'm here to work as hard as I can and to pay Everton back for playing me. They are giving me games, and I am going to do as well I can."

Even as he received the acclaim as Everton's match-winner in the post-match interview, Gibson couldn't divert his eyes from the highlights of his former club being beamed on the TV in the corner.

And he admitted he feels a special sense of delight that his first goal came against City, allowing him to do a massive favour to his Old Trafford pals.

"I'm an Everton player but it does mean that little bit more it was against City, although really I'm just glad we got the three points," he explained.

"I haven't checked my phone yet but I'm sure it will be packed with texts. I'm sure there'll be a few from United. I've got a lot of mates there and I'm closest to Jonny Evans and Wazza. I'm sure there will be a few calls from them."

"I didn't know the United fans were singing my name, but it's good they were. City are a good team, so it's a great feeling that our gameplan against them worked."

TONY Hibbert believes the arrival of £5.5m striker Nikica Jelavic will give Everton FC’s dressing room the boost that will revitalise their season.
 
The 30-year-old defender was instrumental in a patched-up Everton FC 1-0 win over Manchester City at Goodison on Tuesday, and says the feel-good factor from once again humbling Roberto Mancini’s Premier League leaders will help rebuild confidence.
 
Everton rose from lower mid-table to ninth pace after the game, and Hibbert senses that Croatian international Jelavic, 26, can provide the goals that will see their progress up the Premier League continue.
 
He said: “It will definitely lift the dressing room. I haven’t seen much of him but he’s scored a lot of goals for Rangers.

“I believe he’s a quality player, and paying what we did for him will boost the club and lift the fans. Hopefully he shows us what he can do. He has proved it in Europe and he’s supposed to be a handful for defenders. We’ve needed a goal scorer so it’s great.”
 
Hibbert was equally upbeat about the flourishing performances of another Goodison striker, on-loan centre forward Denis Stracqualursi, who produced his second impressive display in four days.

“Denis took a few training sessions to really find his feet here,” said Hibbert. “I haven’t experienced going to another country when you don’t speak the language much and it will be very tough.
 
“Especially coming away from home and what you’re used to into the Premier League must be so hard. It must affect everyone at first. But now he’s showing everyone what he shows us he’s capable of in training.
 
“Denis is all about hard work. I think he’s hit his stride now and the last few games he’s been phenomenal. His work rate never stops.”
 
Not for the first time, right-back Hibbert impressed playing at centre half, and insists the switch comes naturally to him.

He said: “I just like defending. It’s my job. When I started playing right back it came naturally to me and the principles are the same.
 
“I think the manager has faith in me there. To throw me in against Dzeko shows that, and I’ll do anything for Everton.
 
“They’ve (City) got to be one of the best sides we’ve played this season. They’re not top of the table for no reason.
 
“We’ve just been lacking that sort of typical Everton spirit a bit lately.
 
“I think it all came together for us against City.”

ENGLAND U-18 striker Hallam Hope has benefited from playing with a new-found confidence according to Kevin Sheedy.
 
The Manchester-born academy scholar was on target against Manchester United at the weekend, and Sheedy is thrilled at his ongoing development.
 
He said: “Hallam has stepped up into the reserve set-up at times this season, but we’ve had him back with us lately and he’s playing with lots of confidence and performing well.
 
“He’s a powerful lad and a good runner who works hard for the team.
 
“Hallam never shirks hard work, he’ll track back and help his defence without questioning and has a very whole-hearted approach to his game.
 
“He’s great going forward and has started to score goals consistently.
 
“He needs to make the next step soon but he’s doing well for us and we simply want him to continue with that progress.”

STEVEN PIENAAR revealed he followed his heart by returning to Everton FC after admitting: “Sitting so much on the bench was killing my spirit.”
 
Pienaar will spend the rest of the season on loan at Goodison Park from Tottenham Hotspur after David Moyes made a dramatic move just moments before the January transfer window slammed shut on Tuesday.
 
The South African spent three-and-a-half years at Everton FC before moving to White Hart Lane 12 months ago.
 
But he subsequently started just 12 games for the Londoners with only four coming this campaign.
 
And writing on his Twitter account, Pienaar said: “Mixed emotions 2 leave Spurs on loan 2 Everton.
 
“Disappointed I couldn’t get in a playing groove on a regular basis & show the fans the real me.
 
“Manager needs to make his choices, I understand, but I love playing & just can’t sit so much on the bench. It was killing my spirit.
 
“Very thankful that Spurs management allowed me to go on loan and I’m very happy it could be to Everton, a club close to my heart.”
 
Moving in the opposite direction was Louis Saha, who has signed in at Tottenham on a permanent basis.
 
And Saha, who scored 35 goals in 115 appearances for Everton, has hailed Moyes as helping save his career.
 
“I have to say thank you to Everton and particularly David Moyes because they helped me when I really needed it and I will never forget that,” said the Frenchman.
 
“Leaving a great club like Everton is always a bit sad, but things come to an end, and I also want to say thanks to the supporters as there have been good times and bad times but I have always felt supported and loved.”

DARRON GIBSON has hailed the “brilliant” Goodison Park crowd and believes Everton FC’s supporters can act as a 12th man for the rest of the season.
 
The famous old stadium reverberated under the floodlights on Tuesday night as Premier League leaders Manchester City were downed 1-0 by Everton FC.
 
Gibson’s first goal for EFC gave David Moyes’s side a second successive home triumph in four days after struggles on their own patch for much of the campaign.
 
And the Republic of Ireland midfielder is confident the intensity of following can help continue building momentum – starting at Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
 
“The crowd showed in the second half on Tuesday,” said Gibson. “They were brilliant. They pushed us on when it looked like we were getting tired, they got up and started shouting and were like a 12th man. It was brilliant.
 
“We have had a few good results over the last week and are starting to get a bit of belief in ourselves.
 
“We can gain a lot of confidence from going to Wigan and winning, and it can help us kick on.”
 
Gibson, who was signed last month from Manchester United, had last scored for his former club in their Champions League semi-final against Schalke almost nine months ago. And the 24-year-old is determined to make the most of the opportunity of regular first-team football at Goodison.

“I’m here to work as hard as I can and to pay Everton back for playing me,” said Gibson. “They are giving me games.
 
“It is nice to know I’ve got a chance if playing every week, rather than knowing that I haven’t got a chance to be playing to be honest.
 
“I’m gradually getting into things. I think my fitness has a lot to do with that.
 
“I wasn’t match fit when I arrived, but it’s coming. I’m getting fitter and fitter with every game. Hopefully I can kick on from the goal against City.”
 
Gibson added: “I’m delighted with the goal but we all are – not only with that but the performance.

“It’s a great win and a great three points. They are a great side and we know we would have to work really hard to get a result and we did that.
 
“To be honest, they are that good a team that we knew they would have more of the ball so we had a game plan to combat that.
 
“We went out to keep our shape and work hard. We knew we would get a chance at some stage and luckily we took it when we got it.”
 
Meanwhile, Everton’s FA Cup fifth round fixture has been confirmed as a 3pm kick-off on Saturday, February 18, at Goodison.
 
Everton will find out their opponents when Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday replay their fourth round tie on Tuesday.