Yakubu predicts bright future with Andrew Johnson

Sep 3 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

AYEGBENI YAKUBU believes he can form “one of the best partnerships in the Premier League” with Andrew Johnson after his scoring debut for Everton on Saturday.

The club record £11.25million signing from Middlesbrough took just 11 minutes to find the net for the Goodison outfit to send them on their way to a dramatic 2-1 victory at Bolton Wanderers.

Yakubu, who had previously endured a 16-game spell without a goal during an unhappy final few months at the Riverside, was on hand to tap the ball home after fine work from new strike partner Johnson had created the chance.

And Yakubu is confident the £20m forward duo can strike fear in the hearts of Premier League defences this season.

“I think we can have a great partnership and you saw the way we played,” said Nigeria international. “With Mark Viduka I had a great partnership at Middlesbrough and I'm looking forward to having a great partnership with AJ.

“He's quick, he can run down the channels and I think we can be good together. We hope we can both score and help the team finish in Europe.

“I think we could be one of the best partnerships in the Premiership, I really think so.

“We have only been together for four days and it wasn't easy on Saturday, but we still worked well together.

“I've watched him on the training pitch and I know what his strengths are and we have taken that on to the pitch. As we train more together and play more games together, I feel we can become a great partnership.

“I thought AJ was unlucky not to score and he had two chances. He is the same in training and he always works hard. I know his quality and I know what he can do. I scored the goal, but I hope he can score too.”

Of his goal, Yakubu added: “It’s a great feeling to score a goal in my first game and it has given me more confidence. I think it was almost my first touch and that was a great start. I hope I can keep scoring and I will keep working hard on the pitch. We have won away from home which is good and there is a great feeling in the dressing room.”

Everton snatched victory in the 89th-minute through Joleon Lescott’s header after Nicolas Anelka had equalised Yakubu’s opener 10 minutes after half-time.

It continues the encouraging start to the season with Moyes’s men in third place on level points with leaders Liverpool.

Lescott’s goal was his second of the season and came after he had been reinstated to the starting line-up having dropped to the bench for the home draw with Blackburn Rovers the previous week.

And he said: “It’s always a bit special when you win in the last minute and I was fortunate enough to get it. I think that’s the first ever winning goal I’ve ever scored. I’ve scored a few times, but that’s my first winner.

“With the players we have now, everybody knows it’s going to be hard to get into the team and when you get in the team you want to stay in there, so everybody will be fighting for their position.

“I know Alan Stubbs will be back for the next game and my place isn’t guaranteed because he has been doing well. I’ll have to work hard in training.

“This was a massive win for us and hopefully we can take the confidence of this win into the United game.”

Meanwhile, Everton will travel to Coca-Cola Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of the Carling Cup. The tie will take place during the week beginning September 24.