Jermaine Beckford can’t wait for new season to prove Everton FC doubters wrong

Jermaine Beckford 300FOR a player with pace to burn, it's no surprise when Jermaine Beckford says he wants to hit the ground running with Everton.After applying the finishing touches to a four-year deal with the Blues, the former Leeds United hotshot quickly turned his sights to continuing a prolific goalscoring record that prompted a host of top clubs to sit up and take notice.While Aston Villa, West Ham, and Newcastle were all said to be in the hunt for Beckford's signature, word had also spread as far as Serie A from where Parma were known to be sending admiring glances.Named the League One player of the year in 2007/08 and 2009/10, the intervening season saw Beckford scoop the division's golden boot courtesy of the 34 goals he scored; an Elland Road best since the heady days of John Charles some 56 years ago.Just three less last season took his tally to 85 in 149 appearances for Leeds.With a ratio like that, Beckford has been tipped for bigger and better things for some time.Now it's arrived, he intends to take it with both feet.'I've been fortunate enough to score goals at every club I've been at,' said the 26-year-old, who completed his free transfer to Goodison yesterday.'Hopefully I can bring that with me to Everton and hit the ground running.'The last of Beckford's goals for Leeds was the one that finally saw them clinch promotion on the last day of the season.Already down to 10 men, Leeds then went a goal behind to Bristol Rovers. However, spurred on by their captain for the day, Beckford, they got back into it before the top scorer grabbed the winner to seal promotion.For a player whose effort and attitude have at times been questioned by the Leeds support, it was an inspired piece of man-management by manager Simon Grayson to hand Beckford the armband.

Source: Liverpool_Echo