Saha eyes Yakubu double act after ending soccer goal drought

Louis Saha believes he has taken the first step towards rebuilding his career after ending a nine-month goal drought with his first strike for Everton.

The French international striker, whose Manchester United career was handicapped by a long-running battle with injuries, earned his new club their first win at home this season with the late header that secured a 1-0 victory over Fulham.

Saha, 30, started just 52 games for United in nearly five years at Old Trafford and Everton manager David Moyes managed to obtain the Frenchman without any cash advance this summer, signing him on a pay-as-you-play basis.

But Saha has impressed Moyes since his move to Goodison Park and Saturday's strike — the forward's first since scoring for United against Newcastle in February — was a timely boost to his confidence.

The Frenchman, who believes he can form an effective strike partnership with Nigerian international Aiyegbeni Yakubu, admitted the goal had come as a relief.

“Doubts do creep in when you haven't been scoring,” he said. “You feel that you need to be working harder and you want the best.

“I was waiting for the goal — I knew I had to be patient because I had not been playing for a long time. But I have some games under my belt now and I am really pleased to be on the scoresheet.”

Saha, capped 18 times by France, managed to score 28 Premiership goals for United in his 52 starts but his patchy form since the start of the season had seen him lose his starting place for Everton and he had to come off the bench to claim Saturday's winner.

But he insists he has never allowed his injury problems to get to him.

“I know it is always difficult but I kept my head up,” he said. “I have confidence. I knew I was working hard and the main thing is to enjoy your football even when times are hard. Football is a sport. Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is not so good.

“I'm lucky enough to be playing for a great team like Everton and I am really happy right now. The next step is to score more goals.”

Saha is also relishing the prospect of combining his pace and aerial ability with Yakubu's powerful presence.

“I know that I am going to get chances no matter what we do,” he said. “Physically we put so much into games and make it difficult for opponents.

“We get chances because we force mistakes. I think the partnership is going to work. We haven't scored many goals lately but I am confident they will come.”

Moyes, who signed Saha on the advice of former Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz, shares the player's belief that the the first goal of his Goodison career will inspire him to greater heights.

“I didn't think it was a gamble because I thought he was a top quality player without having to shell out that sort of price,” said Moyes.

“I wouldn't say it was a no brainer, but the deal gave us a centre forward who I wouldn't have been able to buy normally.

“I spoke to Carlos Queiroz about him, a few other people who had been around him and they gave me incredible shouts about his ability and what he could do.

“I think he played around 18 games for Manchester United last season and I thought if I could get the same out of him it would give me a better chance of winning 18 games given the ability he has. The feedback and the structure of the deal made it a gamble worth taking.

“I have found him a really pleasant lad. He has just come to a new club as well and he hasn't played much over the last six months and I think he is happy with the chance we have given him.”