Jack Rodwell is relishing the fight for a first team place when he returns from injury.

The teenager is on the brink of a comeback after a hamstring problem and realises he faces a battle to regain his midfield place.

Since he was injured against BATE Borisov last month, Marouane Fellaini has excelled in the holding role, while skipper Phil Neville is also back in the fold after a knee problem.

Rodwell, still only 18 but with 23 appearances under his belt from before his hamstring problem, knows there will be some serious competition in the middle of the park over the coming weeks and months.

"Fellaini had usually been playing further forward but he’s dropped back last few games and he’s done really well," Rodwell told evertonTV.

"Also Steven Pienaar has started to play well, and Phil Neville’s come back in. I think that’s probably why the team is doing so well – he’s a great captain to have and as soon as he’s come back in the team look a lot more solid.

"It’s healthy competition, we’re getting a good squad now and there’s a load of players coming back from injury and we’ll all be fighting for the places which is obviously going to get the best out of us."

Everton's ranks have also been bolstered by the arrival of Landon Donovan, with the American fitting seamlessly into the Toffee's midfield and impressing against Arsenal and Manchester City.

"He’s a good player," continued Rodwell. "He’s known all over America, not so much Europe, but he’s come in and I’ve been really impressed with him. He looks sharp, he’s got a really good touch and I think he could be a really good player for us.

"You wouldn’t know that he’s not played in the Premier League before. I watched him against City and I thought he was one of our better players and hopefully there’s more to come from him."

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