Joleon Lescott: No guarantees in fight for place

Jul 12 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

JOLEON LESCOTT does not believe his new shirt number will guarantee him a place at the heart of Everton’s defence for the start of the new season.

The 24-year-old has inherited the number five shirt previously worn by Scotland international David Weir after having donned the number 16 jersey during his impressive debut campaign at Goodison.

Despite being bought primarily as a centre-back, Lescott spent much of the season at left-back where his fine displays led to an international call-up with England.

However, the switch of shirts has suggested to many that the former Wolverhampton Wanderers defender will return to his favoured position for the Premier League kick-off against Wigan Athletic at Goodison Park on August 11.

But Lescott said: “Everyone’s reading a lot into the fact that I am the new number five but it’s only a number, it’s not a position.

“Obviously I would like to play centre-half because that’s where I’ve played all my career but just because I have now got the number five on my back doesn’t mean I am going to start the season in the middle.

“Nobody in this squad is guaranteed anything and that’s the way it’s got to be.

“There is big competition all over the place and I know, like everyone else, just how well Alan Stubbs and Joseph played last season.

“The performance level of Stubbs during the second half of the season was enough to persuade Everton manager David Moyes to offer the veteran a new one-year contract extension.

And Lescott added: “I was as pleased as anyone when Alan signed his new deal to keep him at the club.

“You’re always learning in this game and there is no-one better to learn from than Alan.

“I was happy to play left-back last season because that’s where I was needed and that’s where the manager wanted to play me.

“I did my best and I’d like to think I did okay but I have to admit I much prefer the centre.”

Lescott was speaking from Everton’s Coverciano training camp in Florence, where the Italian national team are based.

The sweltering conditions have made for demanding sessions, and the defender admits: “The warm weather is testing, there’s no doubt about that.

“You obviously feel the training more when the sun is belting down but I’m sure we’ll all be thinking about Florence when we’re running around the training pitch in November in freezing cold rain!

“It’s hard work but it’s pre-season and you expect nothing else.

“Our strength and fitness is a big part of our game and all the lads are putting the effort in over here. It’s all been said before about our team spirit but it really helps when we’re away at somewhere like this.”

James Beattie sat out training with a minor calf strain yesterday but is expected to be available today.

Meanwhile, Everton’s interest in Manchester United’s England international duo Kieran Richardson and Alan Smith could be stepped up after it emerged that both players will be allowed to leave Old Trafford.