LEON OSMAN believes Jermaine Beckford has adapted to the Premier League just in time to fire Everton into the top six.

The midfielder insists Beckford can cope with the responsibility of being the Toffees’ only fit striker.

Osman, 29, was deployed just behind Beckford in the Blues attack against Aston Villa at the weekend and opened the scoring with a terrific solo effort.

Beckford, who turned professional just five years ago, was denied his ninth goal of the season by a controversial assistant referee’s decision.

Osman said: “It’s becoming rarer to come into football that late but it doesn’t mean you haven't got something to offer.

“Becks came in late and now he’s banging in goals in the Premier League. It just shows that if you believe in yourself, you can get picked up and into a top team.

“He’s our only recognised striker at the moment so there’s a lot of onus on him to try and get us the goals.

“But there’s no way we can just look to one man, and blame him if we don’t score.”

The Blues travel to Wolves at the weekend just four points behind sixth-placed Liverpool – but Osman, speaking at a Prince’s Trust event at Goodison Park, says it is irrelevant who they overtake.

He said: “Of course it would be good to overtake Liverpool.

“But when we were ninth in the table we were looking at getting the points to overtake the side in eighth, and then the same for moving to seventh.

“Now it’s Liverpool above us but we’re not looking at it any differently.

“You go into the league hoping to be in and around Europe at the end of the season, but there’s no point over-thinking it.

“We’ve got it right now and bit by bit we’re getting closer.”

Meanwhile, Tim Howard believes it is vital that the Blues retain the services of Marouane Fellaini.

The United States international said: “He is tremendous for us. We have missed him dearly.

“We hope we can get him healthy over the summer and he’ll be raring to go.”

Howard feels it is crucial the existing big names remain at Goodison Park to maintain spirit.

The 32-year-old added: “We need a few fresh faces, I think everyone would agree with that. And it is vital we stay together.”

Howard still has three years on his contract at Goodison but he is keen to play on beyond that.

He said: “I would like to finish my career here. As far as I am concerned, if Everton will have me, I am staying put.”