PHIL NEVILLE has predicted Everton are on the verge of rediscovering their scoring touch – and has backed Yakubu to lead the charge.

The Goodison outfit were once again undermined by a lack of firepower when they slumped to the bottom of the Premier League following a goalless draw at Fulham on Saturday.

Yakubu was criticised in some quarters after missing a succession of chances that would have earned Everton their first top-flight win of the season. Click here to follow our EFC Twitter stream, for the latest updates.

The Nigerian, who played a full Premier League game for the first time in more than six months, hasn’t scored for David Moyes’s side since his strike in the 3-2 win at Blackburn Rovers in April.

But Neville believes there are signs the forward is close to recapturing his killer instinct and has warned opponents the floodgates will soon open for Everton.

“You saw glimpses of Yak getting away from defenders,” said the Goodison skipper. “We need to persevere with Yak now, he needs a run in the side to get his sharpness back.

“He had an horrendous injury and he hasn’t had the fluency to get his sharpness back. I thought there were signs the goal is coming. We know the Yak, we know his record, he guarantees goals and once he starts scoring he will be like a new signing for us.