Arteta: Dan can forge bright future.

Byline: IAN DOYLE

THE Merseyside derby has coughed up its fair share of unlikely heroes over the years.

From Danny Cadamarteri and David Speedie to Paul Wilkinson and Alan Waddle, a succession of improbables have made decisive contributions in English football's most historic parochial spat.

What all have in common is their careers never again scaled the heights reached by etching their names in derby folklore.

On Wednesday, Dan Gosling became the latest unheralded player to have sealed local bragging rights when his lastgasp injury-time goal earned Everton victory in the 211th meeting with Liverpool and progress to the FA Cup fifth round.

But the general consensus among those at Goodison Park is the youngster is destined to become much more than just a one-off derby hero.

Gosling, who only turned 19 on Monday, has given great cause for encouragement ever since being signed as a 17-year-old for pounds 1.2million from Plymouth Argyle in January 2008.

The midfielder impressed during pre-season but had to wait until Boxing Day before breaking into the first team with his debut at Middlesbrough.

A first goal came as substitute at home to Sunderland two days later, which earned him a standing ovation from his teammates.

It's a measure of the confidence David Moyes has in Gosling that the Goodison manager had few qualms throwing the player into a redhot derby atmosphere for only his fifth Everton appearance as a 53rd-minute substitute for Marouane Fellaini.

And while loath to place unnecessary pressure on Gosling's fledgling top-flight career, team-mate Mikel Arteta believes that, with the right nurturing, Everton could have a gem on their hands.

"Dan has great ability is strong and can run with the ball, can score a goal," says the Spaniard. "He has got the talent.

If he is given the right opportunities he can become a major player for Everton.

He is calm on the ball and has the balls to go and look for it as well. He's a really nice lad, works really hard in training and we are all so happy for him."

Gosling himself believes fate had already dealt him a hand in the build-up to Wednesday's FA Cup fourth round replay.

"All week I had been saying to people that if I got on, I was going to score," says the youngster.

"Honestly! I always know that if I'm on the pitch, I'll get a chance.

"I just try to get into those positions and with the quality of players here, you know there is always a possibility that something will pop up. Thankfully that happened.

"It's all bit blurry at the minute but the feeling I have is absolutely unbelievable.

"But it's not just for me. It's for everyone connected with the club. Over the two ties, I think we deserved it. The lads have been great and it was a great occasion to be a part of.

"My phone has been nonstop since. All my friends and family back home are really chuffed. I got a bit of stick from the lads when I came into training, but that's normal."

Gosling's goal means Everton face another heavyweight tussle at home to Premier League title challengers Aston Villa on Sunday week in the fifth round.

And the derby matchwinner adds: "Moments like this make the hard work worthwhile. I'm really enjoying it.

"This is a great team to play for, the fans are brilliant and the manager has been great. The standing ovation was a bit louder this time!

"All the lads congratulated me but I've no doubt that had it been anyone else, they would have got similar treatment.

"We've got to make sure we follow this win up against Aston Villa now," he added.

"We've got a good chance of progressing and, hopefully, winning something.

We don't want any slipups like when we last played them but hopefully we can get a great result.

"There's no better feeling than getting a last-minute winner. We've got to use that to our advantage."

Similar to Jack Rodwell, who was also introduced from the bench on Wednesday night, Gosling has been a beneficiary of Everton's relatively small squad, with Moyes willing to give youth its chance this season.

And the Goodison manager says: "The boys at Everton know they will get opportunities. If you are a young player just now you would be saying 'There's two boys coming on in a derby FA Cup tie and one of them scores a goal'. "It is the stuff dreams are made of.

"Good luck to these young boys. If they show me enough in training I'll put them in the team.

"We don't have a massive squad which stops these boys developing so we'll try to get them in and get a game."

Everton's win was the first time they had beaten Premier League opposition in the FA Cup in a decade.

It also meant they emerged from their derby triple-header with Liverpool unbeaten, with Moyes citing the performance of Phil Jagielka in helping shackle Fernando Torres as a major influence.

And the Everton manager believes the centre-back's form is deserving of an England call-up for next week's friendly with Spain, and another potential meeting with Torres.

"I think at the moment Phil Jagielka looks unbeatable," says Moyes. "There were moments in the game when I think Torres thought 'I just can't get past him, he's too strong and too quick'. I thought his performance was excellent."

My phone has been non-stop since. All my friends and family back home are really chuffed DAN GOSLING

CAPTION(S):

Dan Gosling celebrates the historic win over Liverpool with team-mate Jack Rodwell; Dan Gosling is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring Everton's late winner; Dan Gosling was not the only youngster to impress as teenager (left) Jack Rodwell put in a fine display