Source: Liverpool_Echo
Jermaine Beckford can be a class act - Everton FC latest
FOR a non-league club, Wealdstone FC has a pretty good pedigree of nurturing the careers of top-flight stars. And whilst the Middlesex club's production line has dried up somewhat since the days of Stuart Pearce and Vinnie Jones in the 1980s, Everton fans will be hoping Jermaine Beckford can be the latest 'Stone' to make an impact at the top level.[LNB]The Ealing-born 26-year-old, who as recently as 2005 was fitting windscreens for the RAC, has agreed a four-year deal at Goodison Park, subject to the completion of a medical, and could become an Everton player as early as next week if, as expected, he insists upon the early termination of his contract at Leeds United.[LNB]Beckford had caught plenty of eyes during his four-year spell at Elland Road. After 85 goals in 149 appearances at Elland Road, including high-profile FA Cup strikes against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, the prolific striker now has another chance to shine in the Premier League, after being released by Chelsea - where he played alongside Carlton Cole at youth level - as a youngster.[LNB]David Moyes has worked hard in beating the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle United to secure his signature, and the Londoner will compete with Louis Saha, Yakubu, Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan for a place in the Everton attack.[LNB]And according to Phil Hay, Chief Football Writer for the Yorkshire Evening Post, Blues fans can expect plenty of goals from their latest capture.[LNB]'The one thing Beckford can definitely do is score,' he says,[LNB]'He took League One to the cleaners over the past few years. He is a great finisher with plenty of pace, and can create goals too.[LNB]'But he is also a striker who thrives off good service. He has had relatively decent service at Leeds but of course that will improve greatly at Everton. Someone like Mikel Arteta is tailormade for Beckford.[LNB]Despite his goalscoring exploits Beckford had come in for criticism from some quarters this season, with supporters questioning their top-scorer's attitude and commitment once it became apparent his future lay away from Elland Road.[LNB]But whilst Hay admits effort is not his strong point, he says he will leave Yorkshire a hero, having scored the goal which sealed Leeds' promotion to the Championship, after three years in the wilderness of League One.[LNB]'Despite how valuable he has been to Leeds since his arrival, Beckford had a strange standing among the fans,' says Hay, 'Although he was quite prolific he seemed to have a strange attitude to the game at times.
