Lukas hopes all's Well that ends Well

29 April 2010 16:09
Everton striker Lukas Jutkiewicz is eager to remain at Motherwell for next season at least as he approaches the last weeks of his loan spell.[LNB] Jutkiewicz has scored 10 goals in Motherwell's SPL campaign despite playing through injury for almost three months.[LNB]The 21-year-old has one year left on his contract at Goodison Park, where he has made just one substitute appearance since signing from Swindon in an initial £800,000 deal in July 2007.[LNB]And he is keen for Motherwell and Everton to come to a deal that will help him develop further under Craig Brown and Archie Knox.[LNB]"I've been really happy here," Jutkiewicz said. "Since the manager and Archie came in, I have been injured a lot of the time.[LNB]"I don't feel they have seen the best of me yet. If they were happy to keep me, I would like to stay next season if possible. But a lot of it is out of my hands.[LNB]"If it's another loan deal, Everton risk losing me for nothing at the end of next season, so they might be looking to get a transfer fee.[LNB]"But I'm really happy here so if I could stay it would be great."[LNB]Jutkiewicz, who followed Everton team-mate John Ruddy to Fir Park in August, would welcome Motherwell buying him on a permanent deal.[LNB]"That would be great if they could but that's for the money men to decide," said the striker, who has also played on loan for Huddersfield and Plymouth.[LNB]"There are other things going on in England but I feel settled here.[LNB]"I have been tossed around quite a bit from club to club and I am enjoying it here."[LNB]Jutkiewicz's goal tally would no doubt have been higher had he not been forced to play through the pain barrier in recent months.[LNB]The Southampton-born player has missed several games and come off the bench in others but he has always shown willingness to ignore a knee injury to help Motherwell's European charge.[LNB]Jutkiewicz has consulted a knee specialist as well as physios at Motherwell and Everton who have assured him the injury will be cured in the summer.[LNB]"The problem started in the beginning of Feb so it's been a frustrating couple of months," he said.[LNB]"I've had a couple of painkilling injections and been assured it's not going to be a long-term issue so I'm happy to try to play when I can.[LNB]"I haven't felt like a loan player here, I've felt really comfortable here, so playing through the pain barrier is something I'm happy to do."[LNB]Motherwell returned to fourth place in the SPL ahead of Saturday's trip to Celtic Park and Jutkiewicz is desperate to maintain that position, which guarantees a Europa League place.[LNB]Jutkiewicz has sampled European football from the bench against teams such as Fiorentina and Nuremberg and is keen to take his experience further.[LNB]"If we finish in fifth place and we get a European place we're in two weeks earlier," he said.[LNB]"If you finish in fourth place, you get two weeks' extra holiday. So the manager doesn't need to give a team-talk, that's a huge incentive. And it's another round towards getting to the group stages.[LNB]"Even if I'm not here I would love to help the lads get there, but ideally it would be something I could be involved in."[LNB]

Source: Team_Talk