LOUIS SAHA has been backed to resurrect his Everton career with a glut of goals, beginning against Chelsea on Saturday.

The Frenchman made only his first start since March in the 2-0 derby defeat to Liverpool, but is back in contention for a regular first-team place after David Moyes forgave his Twitter outburst upon being left out of the squad to face Wigan last month.

Saha, 33, is eager to lead Everton’s attack again at Stamford Bridge this weekend, and has an impressive recent record in the fixture with four goals in the last two seasons.

And Toffees new-boy Marcus Hahnemann, who played with Saha during his stint at Fulham, insists the classy striker is ready to make amends for the slow start to his campaign.

He said: “I played with Saha at Fulham and it’s great to be reunited with him again. He’s still one of the greatest I’ve ever played with.

“He could shoot the ball with either foot equally as well. Not many people in the game can do that. He’s got speed and he just glides when he runs it doesn’t even look like he touches the ground. I don’t get it, because when I run it hurts!”

Experienced keeper Hahnemann, 39, who signed for the Blues last month on a short-term deal, insists Saha, who has had to play catch-up with his fitness, has been working hard behind the scenes at Finch Farm.

“You come in and see him and he’s working hard,” he said. “He comes in and trains when everyone else is off. We were doing a shooting drill and he’s still got a smile on his face and enjoys playing football. That’s what it’s about.

“He’s fantastic - he is still enjoying it too.”

Meanwhile, Leighton Baines has denied Everton are punching above their weight, despite not spending as much as their Premier League rivals.

“People say we constantly punch above our weight but it doesn’t feel that way because we have players who others want to pay good money for but mainly we have managed to hang on to them,” said the England defender.

“We work around what we have and don’t feel we’re punching above our weight.

“You have to have that belief,” he said. “We knew in pre-season the situation financially and there wasn’t going to be a lot of money spent. We knew it was about the people who are here, about working hard, backing each other and getting the best from what we have.”