Moyes: Two-goal hero Yakubu is at the top of his game
David Moyes says Yakubu is enjoying his football at Goodison Park
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Monday, 03, Mar 2008 09:05
David Moyes claims free-scoring striker Yakubu is performing at a higher level for Everton than he has for any of his former clubs.
Yakubu's brace in yesterday's 3-1 defeat of Portsmouth extended his tally for the season to 18, and Moyes says his coaching staff are getting the best out of the Nigerian striker.
Speaking after the home win, which saw the Toffees regain fourth spot from Liverpool, the Everton manager said his Portsmouth counterpart Harry Redknapp was probably rueing Yakubu's sale from the south coast club to Middlesbrough while Alain Perrin was in charge at Fratton Park.
"Harry will know more than anyone that he scores goals wherever he plays," the Scot said of Yakubu, signed from Boro for a club record fee of £11.25 million in the close season.
"But he is doing more than what he has done for his other clubs here because he is a great footballer as well. He is loved here, he is wanted and long may that continue."
On yesterday's match, in which Tim Cahill scored Everton's other goal, while Jermain Defoe glanced a Glen Johnson cross past Tim Howard for the visitors, Moyes said his team had earned an "outstanding result."
"We were very good and we have been for most of the season and we are improving all the time," he claimed.
The win leaves Everton holding the fourth Champions League qualifying spot with 53 points from 28 games, with archrivals Liverpool lurking in fifth with 50 points from 27 games, although Rafa Benitez's team have a slightly superior goal difference.
Meanwhile, Moyes – who has 18 months left on his current contract - has revealed talks with chairman Bill Kenwright over extending his six-year stay at Goodison Park are due to begin soon.