Yakubu scored 23 goals last season in his first term at Goodison

Everton defender Phil Jagielka is backing Toffees striker Yakubu to increase his goal tally after scoring against Middlesbrough on Sunday.

The 25-year-old Nigerian's strike in the 1-1 draw was his first in 10 games having scored 23 goals last term.

Jagielka told BBC Radio Merseyside: "He's not really been missing a hatful - he's just not been taking the chances he normally would.

"Hopefully [his goal] will bode well for the rest of the season."

Jagielka believes recent criticism of the striker has been unfair considering the impact he made last season.

"He's been getting a little bit of stick but it's been very unjust.

"I think Yak sets himself such high standards that when he misses even one chance people think he's not on-form or he's having a bad day, because normally he gets one or two chances a game and he takes them."

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