Hibbert up to fighting for his place

Jul 11 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Tony Hibbert (158)

TONY HIBBERT is relishing the battle to retain his right-back berth following the summer signing of Phil Jagielka.

Jagielka’s protracted £4million transfer from Sheffield United was finally completed last week to bolster the ranks of David Moyes’s side ahead of the forthcoming campaign.

Although a utility player who can be employed at the heart of the defence and midfield, 24-year-old Jagielka is expected to place pressure on Hibbert who has established himself as a regular on the right of the Everton defence under Moyes.

And the 26-year-old has welcomed the increased competition for his place from the new arrival as the Goodison outfit take on the extra challenge of UEFA Cup football.

“When you play for a Premiership team you expect competition for places,” said Hibbert. “The best teams have got several players for every position on the park so it doesn’t matter where you play, you know you face a battle to be in the team.

“Phil has proved himself at Sheffield United where he stood out in a team that, with all due respect, was struggling. He’s a quality player and I know that one of the positions he is comfortable in is right-back.

“But I was pleased with my form last season and I am looking forward to this season now. It’s an exciting time for the club with the UEFA Cup on the horizon and everyone in the squad knows that we’ll all have a part to play at some point.”

Both Hibbert and Jagielka are part of the Everton squad in Italy undergoing a five-day training camp in Florence.

Hibbert will hope for a better summer than last year. Having ended the previous campaign prematurely due to a hernia operation, the player then picked up a tropical illness when on holiday which ruled him out of the start of a campaign.

It set the tone for a frustrating season in which the defender then suffered a serious groin injury and only managed to regain full fitness in April, his absence exposing Everton’s need for more options at right-back.

“It’s tough going at the moment but then it always is during pre-season,” added Hibbert. “The gaffer likes to bring us away and there is a terrific spirit among the lads – we all get on well together.

“I’ve had a touch of hayfever during the summer but apart from that I am raring to go.

“It doesn’t really matter whether we’re in Italy, Scotland or at Bellefield. We know that the pre-season is planned for our benefit and we know that we have a few weeks of intense work ahead of us.”

Everton will now pursue other midfield options after Jason Koumas joined Wigan.