Louis Saha is playing when only half-fit, reveals Everton team-mate

Sylvain Distin reckons Louis Saha is a star even on one leg.

And the Everton defender claimed his fellow Frenchman should not rush back to full fitness as he is scoring a goal a game with a calf strain.

Saha notched his ninth goal of the season at Upton Park for David Moyes' injury-ravaged side before limping off after 57 minutes to get treatment.

And Distin said "You can see how important he is. Every time he plays, he scores. It would be stupid to say we don't need him.

We need everybody but when you've got a player like Louis playing like he is now, even with an injury, it's amazing.

"He does impress me. It's difficult to say he is fresher because he doesn't play every game.

"All I know is I'd like to keep him half-fit and scoring every game than fully fit.

"He's a great player. You can see it every week. It must be like one game, one goal. You can't ask for more."

Saha, now 31, said: "The injury was tight. I didn't really know if I was going to play.

But I was ready to work hard and give everything. It's about concentrating on opportunities and obviously right now it's working. It's international break so the injury will be fine when I get back."

After their first win in eight games, Moyes Everton's non-internationals will now go a team-bonding session during the break.

"We're going to the Lake District?" asked Sylvain. "I heard the West Indies! But wherever we go we're going to work hard.

It's not a holiday. We're going to work hard and then have a few days to recover."