EVERTON striker Louis Saha has vowed to work tirelessly in a bid to end his nine-month Premier League goal drought.
The Frenchman has endured a frustrating campaign so far and only has a solitary strike in August’s Carling Cup win over Huddersfield to show for his efforts.
Saha, who was sidelined for three weeks by a calf injury he picked up on international duty in September, hasn’t found the net in eight league appearances this season.
The 32-year-old last scored in the league when he bagged a memorable double in the 2-1 win over Chelsea at Goodison in February and he’s desperate to rediscover his touch ahead of next Monday’s trip to Sunderland.
“The season has been really hard for me,” said Saha, who top scored for the Blues with 15 goals last season.
“I have had my share of injuries and it has been difficult. When I have had chances to play I don’t think I have had much luck. When I have had sights of goal then shots have been blocked or deflected.
“I feel sharp and am a positive person within myself and I have confidence that when the timing is right and I am able to give my all then it will come together. It is important to get that first goal, it gets you underway.
“I would rather not be sharp and scoring goals with tap-ins and so forth but it doesn’t happen like that.
“I will work harder to get luck back on my side as that is often the way it goes and I will continue to give my all for the team.
“We need results and I will try everything. I will work as hard as I can to help give the team three points as we need to get going again.”
Goals have been a major problem for David Moyes’ side this season with just 14 scored in 13 Premier League games. Tim Cahill leads the way with six while frontmen Yakubu and Jermaine Beckford only have one piece.
Beckford broke his duck with a last-gasp equaliser against Bolton recently and Saha has been impressed by the former Leeds striker.
“I think he (Beckford) has lots of ability,” Saha added. “He has pace and is also a very good finisher. He has many qualities and I have full confidence that he will score a lot of goals at this club.
“Maybe the manager was right when he said that he maybe put him in a bit too quickly given where he had played before. But I see a lot of good qualities in him and I think he can do a lot of damage to defenders.
“He still has to learn but he has what is required and I think everyone here believes that.”
Meanwhile, John Heitinga says he wants to play for Ajax again before he hangs up his boots. The Blues defender left the Dutch club in 2008 to join Atletico Madrid before moving to Goodison a year later.
“I’m eager to return to Ajax later on in my career but I want to play abroad for a few more years first,” he said.
* Everton will face Wolves in the third round of the FA Youth Cup at the Stobart Stadium on Wednesday, December 1 (7pm).
