Home rule can aid Euro ambition for Everton says Joseph Yobo

Apr 22 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Joseph Yobo (158)

JOSEPH YOBO believes home comforts can prove pivotal in Everton’s quest for European qualification.

David Moyes’s side have seen fifth place and a UEFA Cup place come under threat following an indifferent run of form in recent weeks.

It has allowed Aston Villa to close within three points of Everton with the teams meeting in a crucial encounter on Sunday.

That game and Everton’s final match against Newcastle United are both at Goodison Park, sandwiching a trip to Arsenal on May 4.

And centre-back Yobo believes Everton must make the most of the fact two of their final three games are on home turf.

“Towards the end of the season you always want to be playing most of your games at home and we’ve got that opportunity now, so hopefully we can take advantage of that,” said the Nigerian, who made his 200th Everton appearance in the defeat to Chelsea last Thursday.

“We’re playing for the right to reach the UEFA Cup so we are all playing for something and that makes it very exciting.

“If you’d have given us fifth at the start of the season, we’d have taken it.

“If you look at the way the Everton team has been going this season, we’ve been fourth of fifth for quite a long time now so it’s going to be disappointing now if we don’t qualify for Europe.

“Once you’ve played in Europe, most players want to do that every year. We’ve tasted it a few times now, and we know what it’s like and we want to get there again.”

Meanwhile, Derby County have been linked with a summer move for Lee Carsley.

The Republic of Ireland international is out of contract at the end of the season, with no talks scheduled until after the campaign is completed on May 11.

And Derby manager Paul Jewell is ready to attempt to lure Carsley away with the offer of a two-year contract.

The 34-year-old began his career with the Rams and made 166 appearances between 1992 and 1999 before moving to Blackburn Rovers and then Coventry City.

Carsley’s family are still based in the Midlands and Derby are hopeful of reuniting him with former Goodison team-mate Alan Stubbs, who moved to Pride Park in January.

Everton would be reluctant to lose Carsley, who has started all but six games this season, and are prepared to offer another one-year contract extension.

Patrick Boyle has returned to Goodison Park after his loan spell with Coca-Cola League One side Crewe Alexandra expired.