Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard has hailed the influence of Marouane Fellaini over their form turnaround.

For their FA Cup win over Blackpool, the 24-year-old midfielder laid on Royston Drenthe for Everton's opening goal after just 49 seconds, setting David Moyes' men on their way to a comfortable 2-0 win.

"He [Fellaini] shows every week that he can compete and has the class and touch of a top quality midfielder," Howard told evertonfc.com. "Often he outplays the other team's central midfielder and that's even against the top sides. We rely on him so heavily, he's invaluable to us.

"He's got a soft chest and controls the ball so well. It's tough to mark him but you have to mark behind him because he's so strong. He gives us so many options."