David Moyes, the Everton manager, believes his faith in Ayegbeni Yakubu has paid off. The Nigerian striker emerged as the hat-trick hero of the Uefa Cup last 32 triumph over Brann Bergen which set-up a mouth-watering clash with Italian giants Fiorentina in the next round in March.

And Moyes reckons that Yakubu is "worth it" despite all the trouble that came his way for going Awol after the African Cup of Nations. "He is back, he has shown me and the fans that, despite the problem he had here," Moyes said. "Yak looks the part. His all-round play has improved, we have been impressed with his intelligence and how he brings other players into the game.

"If he keeps doing that he will be a big player for us. He has given us a new dimension, we payed a record fee for him and at the moment you can see he is worth it."

For Moyes it was confirmation that his hard-line approach with the 24 year-old had paid dividends. Yakubu was fined and dropped after returning late from the African Cup of Nations Cup, but is right back in the good books now.

Yakubu has now bagged two hat-tricks this season and 15 goals, and is on course to eclipse the 20 goal mark - Peter Beardsley was the last Everton player to do so in 1992.

"It was a great night for Yak, we brought him here to score goals and do what he did for his other two clubs, Portsmouth and Middlesbrough," Moyes said. "And that is the way to tell the manager 'I'm back, and I'm back in the team.' And he told the supporters he is back as well, so well done to him after the last couple of weeks' problems. That is exactly what we wanted."

Yakubu's hat-trick made him only the third Everton player to achieve that honour in Europe, Andy Gray and Alan Ball being the previous two.