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Moyes: Mirallas is Everton's Bale

Kevin Mirallas has scored vital goals for Everton against Spurs and Stoke © AP

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Kevin Mirallas can be Everton's answer to Gareth Bale, according to Toffees manager David Moyes.

The Belgium international has scored two impressive individual goals in his last two games to boost his side's chances of European qualification. He ran 70 yards to score the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Stoke on March 30, before darting past three defenders to produce another solo effort in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Tottenham.

That result was achieved against a Spurs side missing the influence of Bale, who was absent with an ankle injury sustained during Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg against Basel.

But just as the Wales international has been outstanding in Tottenham's push for success this season, Moyes is hopeful that Mirallas can be an inspiration for Everton in the closing weeks of the season.

"Our individual player scored a goal that maybe a Gareth Bale would, as he has done this season. He scored one the other week as well," Moyes told the Liverpool Echo. "I thought he hadn't contributed great until the goal. He got better at times in the second half, but his goal is what he does. That's why you stick with him. Kevin Mirallas scored a Gareth Bale goal - or maybe Gareth's been scoring Kevin Mirallas goals!"

Everton, who trailed to a first-minute Emmanuel Adebayor goal, led in the closing stages at White Hart Lane thanks to Phil Jagielka and Mirallas, but Gylfi Sigurdsson's late equaliser saved a point for Andre Villas-Boas' side.

"It was great credit to the players they never buckled after the first goal. We've taken four points from Spurs this season," Moyes said. "Does the result help us? Probably not. But we're hanging in there. I knew if we won we could get right in the mix. We are underdogs, but people probably weren't putting us in the Champions League spots anyway. We'll keep trying to threaten."

The four points gained against Stoke and Spurs have kept Everton in the frame for Europe, as they lie sixth with seven games to go. They have four points to make up on Arsenal in fifth place, which would guarantee Europa League qualification, while they are six points behind fourth-placed Spurs.

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