Never mind the Premier League – Victor Anichebe believes Everton FC's Leighton Baines is currently the best left-back in the world.
The pair scored the goals that gave Everton a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at St James Park last night, and Anichebe was awestruck by his team-mate’s 35-yard free-kick which got Everton back on level terms just before half time.
Newcastle United v Everton FC at St James' Park. Pics Gareth Jones
Jan 3 2013
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Anichebe, 24, added the winner shortly after his introduction on 58 minutes, and the Nigerian international said he has tried to follow Baines’ hard-working example as he also continues to impress this season.
He said: “Bainesy is probably the best left-back in the world at the moment and that’s no exaggeration. I couldn’t believe his goal. "I was thinking ‘he’s not going to shoot here surely,’ then he ran up to the ball and I was in disbelief. That just shows you how good he is.
“Sometimes I’m watching him from the side and he’s just unbelievable. The way he’s progressed is fantastic. When he first came here he wasn’t really playing but he didn’t complain. He was always in the gym working and trying to improve himself.
“Same with Sylvain Distin. It shows through their displays how professional they are, and I’m looking at that and seeing how it can help me. I’ve tried to follow their example and do as much as I can and I think it’s started to show.”
Anichebe’s strike was his fifth in just 12 appearances so far this season, and came at a ground which has previously prompted difficult memories of rupturing his knee ligaments in February 2009.
But the forward – who scored but also had a legitimate goal against the Magpies disallowed at Goodison earlier this season – says that is behind him now.
“Every time I come here I look back to when I got that injury but I always feel like against Newcastle I get chances or something happens,” he said.
“I don’t know what it is. Hopefully now I don’t need to look back at the past any more and I can just concentrate on the future. When we played against West Ham earlier this season me and Kevin Nolan made up. I want to keep progressing myself now, that’s all behind me.
“People tell me about my goals ratio per minutes played but I don’t really think about these things. To be honest I don’t care. I just want to play and not be injured. It’s something I’m getting better with. Even when I had my hamstring injury I knew I’d come back.”
Source: liverpool_echo