Everton manager David Moyes has said he believes striker Victor Anichebe could become another Didier Drogba.
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A battling man-of-the-match performance from the towering striker helped Everton secure a point at top four rivals Tottenham last weekend, continuing an impressive vein of form.
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Anichebe has previously revealed his admiration for Drogba, who became one of Europe's most feared marksmen during an eight-year stay with Chelsea that delivered, among other things, three Premier League titles and the club's first ever Champions League triumph.
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The Everton manager has urged supporters to maintain their vocal support for the Nigeria international to aid his continuing development which may see him emulate his idol.
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"He probably had the best game I've seen him play for Everton last week," said Moyes.
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"But I've always thought he's got it and I can tell all the supporters that he has got it. Now what we need to do is get it out of him. Maybe the best way is to keep cheering him the way they've been cheering him, because I think he's responding [to it].
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"He's probably felt a lot of the times that he's maybe not been loved as much as he should have been. If they keep cheering him, I think the boy will keep playing the way he's doing."
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Moyes continued: "He can do it. Can he do it consistently? We've still got to see. Can the supporters play a part in him doing it consistently? Of course he can. He needs a bit of self-confidence.
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His form at the moment had everybody talking about him, how good he was.
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"The other day we were calling him 'Baby Drogba' at times, he was that good - and he could be. We need the supporters to show they appreciate him because he needs that."
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The number nine shirt has become a prominent figure in Everton's lengthy history, becoming synonymous with the likes of Dixie Dean, Bob Latchford, Gary Lineker and Duncan Ferguson.
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And Moyes said he believes that Anichebe could follow in those illustrious footsteps at Goodison Park.
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"I think every club wants an iconic number nine. In some clubs it's number seven, in some clubs it's something else. At Everton we've always regarded number nines very important," he said.
Let's see if that would happen at the end of the day. Didier Drogba is an inspiration to so many african football players