Everton v Charlton

FRANCIS JEFFERS' two vital assists in Charlton's 3-1 weekend victory over Birmingham may yet persuade manager Alan Curbishley to include him in Saturday's starting line-up against his first club Everton at Goodison Park.

Jeffers swung the game Charlton's way following his arrival as a 63rd minute substitute as he created goals for Shaun Bartlett and Danny Murphy during an all-action 27 minutes.

While the club's £2.6m summer signing from Arsenal declined to comment after Saturday's match, there is no doubt he is desperate to prove a point to Everton manager David Moyes who sent him packing back to Arsenal last season after an unhappy spell on loan.

The former England international is renowned for his forthright opinions and he got his frustrations off his chest with Moyes who vowed he would never play for Everton under the present regime.

Curbishley admits the striker is desperate to establish himself in the side and conceded he had become a victim of the team's changing system.

He said: "He is a player who needs a run in the side but he knows that playing the shape we are, with only one striker up, it is going to be difficult.

"The lad is great finisher and right now he is looking extremely sharp. He looked good against Rochdale and though he was disappointed not to have started against Birmingham, he came on and made a big impact."

Of Jeffers' time back on loan at Goodison last season, Curbishley added: "It didn't happen for him going back to Everton from Arsenal, who had paid £10.6m to take him to Highbury.

"He didn't get the games to prove what he can do and right now he is feeling the same. I've told him that I have great faith in him and that his self-belief will return if he has a run and starts scoring goals. But he needs that run and I can't guarantee that to anyone."