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Page last updated at 13:28 GMT, Monday, 6 December 2010

Phil Neville hails Everton striker Jermaine Beckford

Jermaine Beckford
Beckford scored his first Premier League goal against Bolton

Everton captain Phil Neville has hailed striker Jermaine Beckford as a natural-born goalscorer.

Beckford, 26, scored the equaliser in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea.

"He's got something special and he's got that knack of being in the right place at the right time," Neville, 33, told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"He's got something you can't practice - you're just born with it. He's got a goalscorer's instinct and he'll score goals for us, I'm sure of that."

He added: "The manager is giving him time and he's coming off the bench and at the moment he's proving a real threat for us.

"When you come off the bench and create two or three chances every time you play it's going to come good for you."

The former Leeds striker has scored three goals for Everton since his free transfer from Elland Road in the summer, with two of those coming in the Premier League.

His goal at Stamford Bridge earned a valuable draw for the Toffees, who are are just two points above the relegation zone.

And Neville knows that statistic means they cannot afford to dwell too long on the performance at Chelsea.

"We can take a little of the plaudits, but only a little because it's only a point," said the former England international.

"We've got Wigan next and we've fallen down against the teams in and around us.

"We've done well against the big teams, but next week's game is our biggest test of the season. We've failed these tests so far this season and we can't fail again.

"We need to show the same spirit and determination we did against Chelsea."



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see also
Chelsea 1-1 Everton
04 Dec 10 |  Premier League
Baines praises 'asset' Beckford
11 Nov 10 |  Everton
Everton clinch Beckford signing
31 May 10 |  Everton


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