Anichebe aims to push on

26 January 2011 15:00
Everton striker Victor Anichebe will use his past injury problems as motivation to improve as he seeks to repay manager David Moyes for his faith in giving him a new long-term contract. The Nigeria international last week signed a new four-and-a-half-year deal and he now has an important part to play in the club's future following the departure of Ayegbeni Yakubu to Leicester on loan and Louis Saha approaching his 33rd birthday. He made his debut as a 17-year-old five years ago - coincidentally in the FA Cup fourth round against Chelsea, against whom he is likely to line up at the same stage of the competition at Goodison Park on Saturday - but has had a couple of seasons blighted by injury. Now back to full fitness, Anichebe is determined to show progress. "I am 22 now and 17 seems a long time ago. I am not really one to dwell on the past. I want to think about the future and push on and do well," he told evertonfc.com. "I always stressed that I needed to build my fitness up and the manager has said he'll help me as much as he can with that. I see the injuries as a positive. Hopefully it will give me more hunger to succeed. "But it's taken me a while to get back. My fitness and confidence goes up and down, but the manager has showed great faith in me and the supporters have always backed me."

Source: PA