MX23RW : Tuesday, January 7 14:43:00| >> :60:616:616:

James Rodriguez: 'There is more to come from me'

James Rodriguez: 'There is more to come from me'
© Reuters
The Colombia international has missed Everton's last five matches with a calf problem.

Everton playmaker James Rodriguez believes he has more to offer as he prepares to return for the resumption of the Premier League.

The Colombia international has missed the last five matches with a calf problem but looks set to be ready for the visit of Crystal Palace on April 5 after beginning individual training this week.

Midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin is finally back with the main squad having not played at all since August 2019 because of a number of serious injuries but it is the re-emergence of Rodriguez which is likely to be pivotal to the club's hopes of securing European football.

The former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich forward has scored five Premier League goals and provided four assists in 18 appearances but he believes he can improve on that.

"I'm reasonably happy with how I am playing. I think there's more to come and I can hit some better form but when I've performed well, it's had a positive effect on the team," he told evertonfc.com.

"And that's what I want: for the team to play good football and perform at a high standard.

"I've come to a good club, a club that wants to achieve big things. I'm with a manager (Carlo Ancelotti) who knows exactly what I'm like. I get on fantastically well with him, just like a father and son.

"Many of my hopes and dreams have come to fruition, but when you fulfil your dreams, you want to achieve even more, so here we are, now, taking things step by step.

"Firstly, we need to be fighting it out around the top of the league. The past two games (defeats to Burnley and Chelsea) haven't been as good as we would have liked but that's the Premier League.

"Every game is like a final, a battle, but that's what we're here for and you have to make sure you're in good shape and strong mentally and prepared for everything, as it's going to be tough."

ID:440950: cacheID:440950:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2958:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ben Godfrey in action for Everton with Liverpool's Sadio Mane on October 17, 2020
Read Next:
Ben Godfrey relishing leadership role with England Under-21s
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!