Alan Stubbs was full of praise for Everton teammate Mikel Arteta after yesterday's victory over Middlesbrough.

Stubbs said of the influential Spaniard: "There is no substitute for class, and he is a really important part of the team.

"When he's not playing it shows, but it is the same in every team when your big game players aren't playing."

Stubbs was also delighted to see Everton rise to fifth spot in the table, following two league defeats.

"We dropped back a bit when it was 2-0 rather than going for the third but with the way the results have been going lately it was just a matter of getting the win and it puts us nicely into fifth," said Stubbs.

Arteta himself was just delighted to be back in action: "We needed to get back winning at home," he said.

"We have needed to show character because we have had so many important player injured.

"I wanted to be back quickly because we are playing so many games and we need as many players back as possible."