Yakubu promises another goal spree

Everton’s Nigerian striker Ayegbeni Yakubu expects to terrorise Premier League defenders again this season after setting his sights on another 20-goal haul.

Yakubu, 25, became the first Everton player to score 20 goals in a single season since Bob Latchford in 1978 as he netted 21 times in all competitions last term.

The Super Eagles star, who signed from Middlesbrough for a club record 11.25 million pounds last year, believes he can do even better in 2008-09 because he is playing with such talented team-mates.

“I’m confident about scoring more than 20 goals again in this season,” Yakubu said. “It’s not easy to score 20 goals in a season and it has been a long time since an Everton player managed it, so you can imagine how pleased I was.

“But with the quality of players we have and the work we put in, I believe I can score even more this time.

“David Moyes has made us believe in ourselves. He can’t bear losing. I’ve had to work harder since joining Everton, but I’m not complaining – I’m enjoying the best spell of my career.”