Baines has made 24 appearances for Everton this season

Former Everton defender Matt Jackson is delighted that Leighton Baines is getting an extended run at left-back in David Moyes' team.

Jackson and Baines were team-mates at Wigan Athletic prior to Baines moving to Everton for �6m in 2007.

"You only really get your fitness by playing ten games consecutively and he's now done that," Jackson told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"He brings great attributes to the team and gives a real balance on the left."

Jackson added: "He's a great young professional and I'm delighted for him as a mate and as an Evertonian that he's doing so well in the team now."

Baines, who has suffered from a number of injuries since arriving at Goodison Park, found his opportunities limited at left-back last season due to the good form of Joleon Lescott.

Lescott has featured more regularly at centre-half this season, in part due to Joseph Yobo's hamstring injury, which has opened the door for Baines.

He has good pace and is brave, obviously he's never going to be a six-footer so he adapts his game to suit Matt Jackson on Leighton Baines

And after a series of impressive performances, Jackson believes that Baines has now made the left-back spot his own.

"He has good pace and is brave, obviously he's never going to be a six-footer so he adapts his game to suit," said Jackson.

"I think he does absolutely fantastic. I played a lot of games with him at Wigan and never saw him in any trouble whatsoever in that left-back spot."

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