Football: BACK BEATT; Everton 1 Middlesbrough 0 The word is on the street.. that Everton misfit James is reborn.

Byline: By ALAN NIXON

JAMES BEATTIE lifted Everton out of the bottom three and left boss David Moyes tipping him to reach his old scoring heights.

Beattie has struggled to live up to the pounds 6million fee Moyes paid for him in January but is finally showing signs of hitting the form that made him a wanted man - and won him England caps while at Southampton.

Moyes put his neck on the line with the big-money buy and was relieved to see Beattie's winner beat Boro, the first goal from open play at Goodison in the Premiership this season. But he thinks there is more to come from his star striker, especially with winger Andy van der Meyde supplying dangerous crosses while getting near to full fitness.

Moyes said: "You are beginning to see there is a chance James Beattie will get back to scoring some goals.

"He's got one, hit the bar and might have had another. You could see periods where he looked knackered but he had the resources to keep going to the end.

"Van der Meyde's quality was excellent, and if we get balls in the box James will get on the end of them. If you get deliveries like that goal will come easier."

Boro didn't comment on the future of Abel Xavier who will know his fate this week as FIFA look at a second drugs test - amid reports it shows he HAD been taking steroids.

CAPTION(S):

SMASH AND GRAB: James Beattie is mobbed by Duncan Ferguson, David Weir and Tim Cahill after his goal; FIRED UP: Moyes makes more than his point