Campbell enjoys new lease of life in Wayne's world

Asked to differentiate between the pressure of fighting against relegation and that of tussling for a place in the Champions' League, Kevin Campbell puts it very simply. "When you're chasing that European spot you've got a smile on your face. When you're trying to stay in the league it's a grimace."

For too long before David Moyes' arrival, Everton had been playing through gritted teeth, when even the fleetingly good times left a sour taste. Campbell is remembered on the blue half of Merseyside as being responsible for Everton's last victory in a derby, the only one Gérard Houllier has lost; the only time, the Liverpool manager remarked yesterday, when his team has lost its composure. Everton then went two months without a victory, finishing 17 points adrift of their rivals.

Should Campbell do the same at Goodison this afternoon his smile is likely to be very broad indeed. Everton would be in a position to qualify for Europe for the first time since 1995 and, more pertinently, finish above Liverpool for the first time since they took the championship in 1987.

"It is a case of keeping our nerve," said Campbell. "Many teams have been in this position at this stage of the season, fallen by the wayside, and not qualified for Europe. We could still turn round and say we had a good season but, deep down, you want to qualify. We know we're in a good position and we don't want to miss out. The manager knows it, the players know it."

At 33, Campbell is the oldest member of Moyes' squad, which, with very few additions and the notable emergence of Wayne Rooney, is the same lifeless, underachieving one which spluttered through the best part of four desultory seasons under Walter Smith. Nine other members of the squad are 30 or in their 30th year, in contrast to the battery of young players on which Houllier has founded his team.

"That has stood us in good stead because there are times when the manager's had to change things around and the experienced players have come in and done well," said Campbell, who admitted he would have settled for a mid-table position back in August. "Of course we would, everybody would. But the season's gone from strength to strength and there's been the addition of Wayne."

Houllier believes that Everton's revival runs far deeper than Rooney, although the brawny 17-year-old from Croxteth is its most public face. "The Wayne factor," Campbell called it. "You know he's quality, but you don't realise what a big talent he is until he gets on the pitch.

"It's a joy to play alongside Wayne. For someone so young to be so gifted and to have the privilege of playing alongside him is tremendous. I'm the oldest member of the squad, and to see the things he can do it's frightening. Defenders have got years and years of him to come and I wouldn't like to be in their shoes.

"You do give advice and the good thing about Wayne is that he listens; it's one thing giving advice, it's another when the youngster actually takes it. When you see him put it into practice on the pitch, that's when you know you've got somebody special. Everyone knows he's a special boy; he's such a nice boy, too, and everyone knows he could be up there with the greats in world football."

Like Campbell, Mark Pembridge has known very little other than struggle at Goodison since he arrived on Merseyside from a spell with Benfica. He was injured when Moyes' arrival was announced and felt apprehensive, not least because, as someone out of the side and part of the old regime, it might be difficult for him to make an impact.

But since his first steps in the game with Pen-y-Dre in Merthyr Tydfil, Pembridge, who has a boxer's build, has been a fighter and has forced his way back in. Moyes, he says, is a similar manager to Mark Hughes, whom he has watched at close quarters turn around the fortunes of Welsh football. "They're both similar sorts of people, young managers who know how the modern game is played. Mark, like the gaffer here, wants the players to come first. Always."

Expectations are beginning to mount. When Everton ran out for their last home match, a pivotal if controversial 2-1 victory over Newcastle, the sound of "Bobby Shaftoe", the old Z Cars theme, was practically drowned out and it should be inaudible this afternoon.

"After everything that's happened to this club, it's a nice pressure, playing the best teams without fear," said Pembridge. "It's a different atmosphere at games now. The fans have been with us through the bad times and they have taken so much stick over the years. But we must remember that it's not a good season yet, because it's not over."