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Southall: Everton need a Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard has been Liverpool's talisman for many years © PA Photos

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Neville Southall believes his former club Everton need their own version of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard to propel them into the Premier League's top four.

Southall, a key part of the Everton's last title-winning sides of 1985 and 1987, feels that David Moyes' men need more drive in midfield to go with their attacking threat.

The former Wales international goalkeeper has been impressed by the goalscoring prowess of Nikica Jelavic and Marouane Fellaini this season.

And he thinks that Everton will be a stronger side for the return of midfielder Darron Gibson from an early-season thigh injury that kept him out for almost three months.

But Southall, who made 750 appearances for Everton between 1981 and 1998, feels that Everton need a little more in midfield to push them up from their current league position of sixth.

The 54-year-old said: "They have upped their performances and the reason for that is they have got goalscorers. "They've kept it tight before because they didn't have that cutting edge but now they have goals all over the pitch.

"But I don't think we have anyone with that vision. Gibson is not bad to be fair but he's not there every week. Maybe by next season he would be ideal but he's picked up a few injuries here or there.

"Jelavic can change a game on his own but I'd like to see someone with a bit of drive and personality. I'd like to see them have someone who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and make an impact.

"Someone like the character of Andrei Kanchelskis but a midfielder who can drive the team forward, maybe make a few tackles - someone like a Steven Gerrard for Everton. They don't seem to have someone who has that drive inside them yet."

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