HAPPY TO STAY ON MERSEYSIDE? YOU BETO HE IS!

Striker's delighted he didn't take an Italian job in window

- PAUL BROWN

EVERTON'S latest goalscoring hero is breathing a sigh of relief he didn't sign up for an Italian job this season.

Toffees striker Beto, who is fast becoming a cult figure at the club, almost left to join Torino on loan last month.

But injuries to Dominic CalvertLewin, Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti suddenly opened a door for him.

And he has marched right through it, scoring his fourth goal in three games to help Everton beat Crystal Palace on Saturday and edge towards safety.

The Portuguese, 27, opened the scoring with a first-class finish and Carlos Alcaraz (right) scored the winner after JeanPhilippe Mateta's Eagles equaliser.

Asked if he thought he was leaving in January, Beto said: "There was a point, yeah. But I didn't want to go. If it happened, it would have been because I needed to get minutes anywhere.