Pienaar wins plaudits as Everton look for 5th spot

Leighton Baines has hailed Steven Pienaar as one of the keys to Everton’s success this season as David Moyes’ side look to continue their push for fifth place against Tottenham on Saturday.

South African winger Pienaar has taken on plenty of creative responsibility since Mikel Arteta’s season was ended with a serious knee injury in February.

Moyes has a hard-earned reputation for unearthing bargain signings of real quality and capturing Pienaar has to be one of the best pieces of business he has ever done.

Former Ajax player Pienaar, 27, spent last season on loan at Goodison Park after a miserable year in Germany with Borussia Dortmund.

He impressed Moyes sufficiently for the manager to spend two million pounds on making the signing permanent last summer.

Pienaar, who has already made 70 appearances for the Blues, has not been a prolific goal-scorer but, as well as his regular assists, he has managed two goals in five appearances going into the game against Harry Redknapp’s Spurs.

And full-back Baines, whose performances this season have earned him a place in the England squad, feels Pienaar’s contribution has been crucial.

“He’s got such fantastic ability that if he gets that space he’s not going to lose the ball,” Baines said.

“He will pick out a pass or will beat somebody, he’s always productive so I think we have a good understanding at the moment down our side and Steven is someone I absolutely love playing with.

“We have an understanding with each other and he helps me out defensively, he tracks back and works hard.

“Going the other way I’ll run past him and create a bit of space.”

Everton are battling for fifth place with Aston Villa and trail Martin O’Neill’s side by three points with three matches remaining.

Tottenham are also looking for a victory to boost their chances of qualifying for the Europa League in a four-way fight for seventh place.

They trail West Ham, who currently occupy the final European place, by a point and are level on 37 points with Fulham and Manchester City.

Spurs enjoy a solid record at Goodison Park, having lost just once in 11 Premier League games.

England midfielder Jermaine Jenas, who has been linked with a move to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan this summer, accepts Tottenham will have to be at their very best to find a way past Moyes’s team.

But even though he acknowledges that Spurs are in for a serious examination of their European credentials, he feels that Tottenham, who have lost just twice since February and have won three of their last four matches, are in bullish mood going into the match.

He said: “It’s a big test. They always pack out the midfield, the have a holding midfield player and the forwards drop off in there as well.

“They aren’t scared of putting in a tackle, they win headers that’s how David Moyes likes his teams to play.

“They are all honest players who work hard and when players are like that, you’ll get a lot of out of them. We’ve seen the results of that this season.

“They’re a tough side to play, very consistent and tough to beat at Goodison although we’ve had a good record there in recent seasons.

“We’re on a good run and we’re looking forward to it.”