GAZZA MADE EVERTON APPROACH
EVERTON midfielder Paul Gascoigne has revealed that he asked Toffees boss Walter Smith to rescue him from his unhappy spell at Middlesbrough.
The former England star wanted to join the Merseysiders in a bid to link up again with Smith, who was his manager and mentor during his stint in Scotland with Rangers.
"I just rang Walter up and said things aren`t going too well for me at Middlesbrough," the 33-year-old told the official Everton website.
"They had offered me a free transfer or I could have stayed for another year, which I had left on my contract.
"I asked him whether he would be interested, he thought about it, and he said `yes we are.`
"I was over the moon and very excited to be joining the club."
`Gazza` has been plagued by thigh and hernia problems of late, but he is on the verge of returning to training with the first team, ready to give Smith a welcome boost.
