RICH PRAISE FOR VICTOR

Alan Irvine believes Victor Anichebe's brace of goals in Saturday's victory over Bury have underlined his growing stature as a regular member of the first-team squad.

Alan Irvine believes Victor Anichebe's brace of goals in Saturday's victory over Bury have underlined his growing stature as a regular member of the first-team squad.

The teenager netted goals in each half as the Blues recorded a straightforward 3-1 victory over the Shakers at Gigg Lane.

Having made his debut for the Blues last season in the FA Cup against Chelse, Anichebe netted his first senior goal after coming off the bench in the final game of the season against West Bromwich Albion.

The tall, powerful striker has maintained that progress into pre-season - buoyed by a new professional contract signed in May.

Alan Irvine, who took charge of the XI at Gigg Lane on Saturday, told evertonTV: "They were two very good finishes, the second in particular which was a terrific striker's finish. Victor has been showing a great deal of promise.

Victor Anichebe celebrates his first goal at Bury

"At the back end of last season he managed to force his way into the team and all the way through since we started back he is beginning to show he is ready to become a regular member of our first team squad."

Irvine was also delighted with the way the game went at Bury in terms of a training exercise.

"The reason behind having two games was that we wanted to give all of our senior players the opportunity to play 90 minutes," he explained.

"The only reason any of them would have come off would have been through injury or fatigue and I am delighted none of those things happened."

To see this interview in full, including Alan's assessment of Andy Johnson's first appearance in an Everton shirt, subscribe to evertonTV now.