Tobias Linderoth is determined to get a good pre-season under his belt and stake his claims for a regular starting berth in time for the new season.

The talented Swede, who will start tonight's pre-season friendly against Bad Goisern, made just six first team appearances during the 2002-3 campaign, but the Blues didn't lose a game in which he played.

Linderoth is hoping that run continues.

"I don't think I am a lucky charm," he laughed, "but I hope next season goes like that for me.

"I have played the last couple of years in the anchor role in central midfield and I think I have played my best games there.

"Last season was a difficult one for me, but I feel fine now." The hamstring is perfect and it is good to get a full pre-season under my belt for the first time at Everton."

Linderoth has endured a stop-start Everton career since he arrived from Norwegian club Stabaek in January 2002.

Brought to the club by Walter Smith, who was sacked soon afterwards, the 24-year-old midfielder, has been frustrated by injury since David Moyes arrived at the club.

"I don't feel that last season was a completely wasted one for me," he continued.

"I had a tough beginning of the season and then I started to play a little bit.

"Then I got injured and there's not much you can do about that.

"It feels a bit like the manager doesn't really know how well I can play because he hasn't been able to watch that much of me."He went with the other players he knew better.

"When you are injured you feel you are not as involved as the other players. But it maybe gave me time to get to know everyone at the club better , and I want to stay here for a long time."