Everton manager David Moyes believes the only thing preventing defender Joleon Lescott from getting an England call is his lack of goals.
Lescott has adapted so well to life in the Premiership since his ?3.5 million summer move from Championship club Wolves that his name is one of the first on Moyes's team sheet each week.
The 24-year-old makes his 14th top-flight start when West Ham United visit Goodison Park today.
And with regular scorers Andy Johnson and Tim Cahill both injured, Moyes believes there is no better time for Lescott, who has not found the net in 16 months, to break his Everton scoring duck.
"I think Joleon would be closer to the England side if it was not for the fact that Steve McClaren is so strong in that area," Moyes said.
"He's played in left-back and center-back positions since he came here. No one has given him the run-around and he's handled all the challenges really well. He's not been done for pace or strength. The only thing missing from his game is goals and I have told him that," Moyes said.
"There's not a lot of defenders capable of scoring goals. John Terry can get you a goal and that's why he's playing for England. Defenders have to be consistent and reliable and Joleon is proving to be both. He's good to have around the place and I've been really impressed with him," Moyes said.
Moyes is demanding his team share the goals while Johnson and Australian midfielder Cahill remain on the treatment table.
Johnson, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring problem, could make a surprise return this weekend after resuming light training.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to