Jeffers returns to Goodison hungry for Shearer's record
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Your support makes all the difference.Francis Jeffers plans to revive his career alongside Wayne Rooney at Everton. Jeffers was once the darling of Goodison Park, but took the chance to make a bigger name for himself with Arsenal. After two seasons at Highbury and despite a Premier League champions' medal and two FA Cup winners' medals, Jeffers was rarely a first-choice striker.
So when the opportunity to move back arose it was too good to turn down, and Jeffers has an early opportunity to show the Everton faithful, many of whom were critical of his move, what they have been missing when he leads the line in a must-win game for the Under-21s against Portugal at Goodison tonight.
The stage is set for Jeffers to break Alan Shearer's Under-21 goal-scoring record, with the pair tied on 13.
"I've been back to Goodison before with Arsenal and it was emotional then, so it's going to be very emotional this week with tomorrow's game and Newcastle on Saturday," Jeffers said. "Turning out for England will give me a taster and hopefully I'll then play this weekend, but England comes first and I still want that record."
The Under-21 coach, David Platt, will have the captain, Gareth Barry, available again after he missed Friday's 1-1 draw in Macedonia with a groin strain. David Prutton is free of suspension and Michael Dawson comes into contention after recovering from a virus.
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