EVERTON’S ‘forgotten man’ Lars Jacobsen is targeting a long-awaited first team debut but admits that Sunday’s FA Cup clash has probably come too soon for him.

The Danish right-back’s Goodison Park career looked like it could have been over before it had started when he dislocated his shoulder on international duty against Portugal in September before he had even taken to the field in a Premier League game.

However, the 29-year-old, who joined the club on a one-year deal from German side Nuremberg last summer is finally closing in on a senior outing having turned out for the reserves for the first time in Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat to their Hull City counterparts.

He said: “Playing against Liverpool may be a bit early, I don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see. The manager decides that, I just want to get as many games as I can now and as fit as possible so I just have to wait and see.”

Although Jacobsen has won 18 caps for his country, he concedes that he faces a tough task breaking up the current backline of Tony Hibbert, Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott and Leighton Baines while Nigerian international Joseph Yobo is already close to regaining full fitness.

Steven Gerrard’s strike on Monday was the first goal that Everton had conceded in more than 10 hours of football and Jacobsen added: “The team are playing great at the moment – not conceding many goals. It will be tough getting into that defence but as a footballer you have to get in there, believe in yourself and wait

for your chance. There are some things I have to get used to defensively over here, but I’m learning it quickly and hopefully I’ll be able to play alongside some of the great players we have in the first team.

“It’s a great team spirit and a great atmosphere, especially at the moment when we’re getting the results we do. I love to be here and I think the squad is great.”