Distin: I'll Play Anywhere

Veteran happy to continue as stand-in left-back if asked to do so.

Sylvain Distin says he is happy to continue as Everton’s emergency left-back.

The veteran defender filled in for the injured Leighton Baines to great effect in the 4-4 draw at Old Trafford last week.

Faced with one of the league’s in-form players in Antonio Valencia, Distin defended manfully in what was a somewhat unfamiliar role for the experienced centre-half.

And with Baines still a doubt for Saturday’s game against Fulham at Goodison, the 34-year-old could yet be asked to continue there.

Distin said: “I've got absolutely no idea (if and where I will play). Everybody is back at centre-half nowadays, there's good competition. There are three or four of us with (Shane) Duffy as well.

“The only problem is with left-back because Bainesy is still injured, but I'm sure there are one or two other players that can play there. We'll see. But even if the gaffer asks me to play goalkeeper, I will do it. I love football. I want to play no matter what – even as a striker, I will try.

“I knew (last week) would be a lot of running - it's a completely different position,” he added. “I didn't expect to do as well as Bainesy, or go forward as much as him – that's kind of impossible with my legs!

“So the most important thing was to stop Valencia, who is an amazing player. He is fast, sharp, he can cross the ball. He can dribble past you, so you have to try and be simple in your passing and most important try to stop him. It was difficult at the end, but it was interesting. It was a good game and I think there was a lot to learn from it.”

The Blues have four games left this season, starting with Fulham, and Distin says there is a determination to take the team’s good league form all the way to the finishing line.

He said: “Maybe some people feel if we finish seventh or ninth, if we don't qualify for Europe it doesn't change much. But personally I want to finish as high as possible – no matter who is in front, or who is behind. If you watched the training today or yesterday, you would know we are still working really hard. We finish well every season and finish high in the table. That's great.”