Lescott: Life sweet as a Toffee

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Joleon Lescott is confident Everton will be able to break the 'top four's' stranglehold on the UEFA Champions League places.

Over the past few years it is Everton that have arguably looked likeliest to break the monopoly at the top of the table enjoyed by Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Everton head into the final game of the season at home to Newcastle looking to sew up a European place for the third time in four seasons.

While Lescott believes Everton are heading in the right direction, he accepts the club needs to be playing in the Champions League to really push on.

Progress

The 25-year-old said: "We will keep progressing. Everton were doing that before I arrived and in my first campaign here last season we finished sixth. Now we are one point away from improving on that by claiming fifth.

"We all feel we are going in the right direction and that in the next few seasons we can break into the top four.

"We have all made progress. At the beginning of my time here I suppose all I was concerned about was getting in the side and playing well, I was more interested in that rather than finishing fifth or sixth.

"That was my aim then. But now having played two seasons here and established myself, I am looking forward to next season and what we can all achieve as a club."

New deal

Having recently signed a new long-term contract, Lescott is happy he has committed the best years of his career to the Toffees.

He added: "I see my long-term future at this club now. We are beginning to get big-name players in here, and those looking in from the outside now want to be part of Everton's future, and why wouldn't they?

"Hopefully we can end the season on the right note on Sunday. Newcastle have been playing well but we are confident now in our own ability and we know we can get the right result."