Naismith: Champions League boost as injuries ease – Liverpool Echo

2 Feb 2014 22:30

Steven Naismith celebrates after scoring against Villa

Steven Naismith believes the end of Everton’s injury nightmare will provide a timely boost to their Champions League hopes.

The Scotland international started his side’s fightback against Aston Villa at Goodison on Saturday, as Sylvain Distin and Steven Pienaar returned to play influential roles in a 2-1 win.

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Everton 2 Aston Villa 1 (pics: Jason Roberts)

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With Seamus Coleman and Gerard Deulofeu also on the comeback trail, Naismith reckons Everton’s bid for the top four will soon have fresh momentum, following a weekend which saw them reduce the gap between them and Liverpool to two points.

He said: “We’ve gone through every defensive partnership possible in the previous weeks but we’re slowly starting to get bodies back.

“Sylvain came back on Saturday and showed his class, and Ross is a massive player for us. It maybe wasn’t his day against Villa but he’s one of our best players and a main asset going forward. To get lads back and competing for places again is important for us. It’ll help us push on now.

“There’s definitely strength in depth here, but when any squad gets the injuries we’ve had it’s going to be stretched.

“Everyone in the squad believes they can play and the manager believes in them too. If you look at our full squad we’ve got maybe four who can play up front, a lot who can play advanced midfield roles and our defensive options have worked because we’ve had cover every time.

“I’m pretty sure if you ask the manager he’s happy with this squad going into the end of the season.”

The victory over Aston Villa ended an otherwise difficult week on a high, after losing 4-0 to Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday.

And Naismth, 27, admitted the hangover of that set-back had still not subsided during a lacklustre first half against Villa.

“Before the game we were focusing on just getting back on the winning trail with the least amount of damage possible,” he said.

“Obviously it was a terrible night on Tuesday and the players felt it hard. We knew it was going to be difficult against a Villa side which are arguably the best at counter attacking in the league, and we had a slow start.

“It wasn’t until we got the goal that we started playing our stuff, but the change in bringing Ossie central and getting him on the ball made a difference in the second half.

“I managed to get us one back and the momentum took us through after that. It was a world class free kick from Kevin which won the game.

“After Tuesday there was nerves in the team and we didn’t knock the ball about as fluidly as we normally do, especially at home. The manager told us at half time he never wants us to be like that.

“He said for us not to be afraid to give the ball away, if it happens, it happens just win it back and go again. That’s the attitude we should have.”

Naismith took his goal tally for the season to five after coming on as a 70th minute substitute for John Stones.

Roberto Martinez asked the Scot to take up a central striking role, and he said he relished the chance after being crestfallen not to have started the game in Romelu Lukaku’s absence.

“I was very disappointed not to get the nod to start because after Rom getting the injury the position was going to be taken by somebody,” he said.

“When it wasn’t me I was bitterly disappointed but from then you just have to back the team and be ready when the manager calls on you. I’ve done all I can by coming on and scoring, and being more of a presence up front than anything else.”

On his goal, a smart link-up with Steven Pienaar, he added: “I enjoy getting played through like that. I came deep just to get the ball off Aiden (McGeady) and played a wee bit of the build-up but then when it came to Steven I knew, and he gave me the shout he was going to play it first time.

“I timed my run well and then you have to wait for the goalie to plant his feet and put it around his feet so he can’t move. That’s what happened.”