Everton academy guru Ray Hall admits Tony Hibbert arrived as a striker.

Hibbert's testimonial will be held tonight against AEK Athens.

"He really is a good finisher you know," Hall, the man who first coached Hibbert as a 10-year-old, told evertonfc.com. "He came to us as a front player having played there for his primary school team.

"He settled down as a midfield player but it was a strange occasion which changed that. At that time, the FA ran their national school at Lilleshall and their trials were being held at Preston or Oldham and we nominated three or four players, and Tony was one of them.

"I looked at it and thought, well he might not get in front of Ossie, and Joe Cole was the other midfield player. So I thought, 'why not move him?'. I said, 'Why don't you go in at right-back or wide right?'.

"I probably ruined his chances of getting into the national school but later in life he is a right-back and he's got great qualities."