STEVEN Pienaar believes Everton’s away support are the best in the league, as he bids to ignore the distraction of his contract wrangle and help the Blues to victory against Stoke City.

The silky-skilled midfielder returned to the side after a month-long absence last weekend in the hard-fought draw with Spurs at White Hart Lane.

He is yet to sign a new deal, and team-mates Phil Neville and Tim Howard have publicly urged him to put pen to paper.

David Moyes was given a much-needed boost by Pienaar’s on-schedule return to fitness last weekend, with Leon Osman, Jack Rodwell and Marouane Fellaini all injured.

The Blues are at least likely to welcome Mikel Arteta back against Tony Pulis’ team tomorrow.

But Pienaar will do everything possible to be fit to reward the Toffees’ supporters who have won his admiration.

He said: “Everton has the best away support in the Premier League. When I first arrived I was amazed at how many fans we would take to the away games and that gives you confidence even before the game starts.

“I’ve played for the club all over Europe and the following we have had has been unbelievable. At Goodison as well, when the fans are right behind us and the stadium is bouncing, it really can help players raise their game.”

Pienaar, who is an ambassador for anti-racism in sport charity Kick It Out, is one of Everton’s trio of free-kick takers.

And Mikel Arteta insists he will continue to share free-kick duties.

In the Spaniard’s absence last weekend, Baines curled a sublime left footed strike past Heurelho Gomes to earn a point from White Hart Lane.

The influential Spaniard, who has a stunning archive of dead-ball successes to his name, insists he does not have a monopoly on free-kicks.

“It is not about rivalry, “he said. “He knows he can score a free kick, as I can, and it helped us to get a point there.

“Who takes the free kick depends on many things; the distance, the angle, where the keeper is.”

Arteta has been nursing his hamstring problem for some time, with the affliction almost keeping him out of the Merseyside derby before he had to miss out at White Hart Lane.

He said: “I am trying my best to get fit for Saturday. “We have a good chance to climb the table again and we want to get three points on Saturday.”