Steven Naismith

 

{Player Profile Updated 26/07/2012}







Date of Birth: - 14 September 1986.



Height: - 5 ft 10 in.



Nationality: - Scottish.



Position: - Striker (can also play as a winger)



Current Club: - Everton.



Estimated Market Value: - Around £4 million (Everton got him on a free transfer)



Linked with: - N/A







Club Career:

-Naismith played several years in the Kilmarnock youth team before signing professionally for Kilmarnock on 31 August 2002.



-He made his debut on the 24th of April 2004 against Hibernian.



-He scored his first senior goal for the club in a 2-2 draw with Heart of Midlothian in February 2005.



-Naismith went on to win the Scottish Football Writers' Player of the Year award, for the 2005/2006 season after scoring twelve goals.



-Naismith's performances led to a two-day trial with Arsenal in August 2006.



-On 31 August 2007, Kilmarnock accepted Rangers' offer for Naismith for around 1.9 million pounds.



-The following day Naismith made his debut as an 83rd minute substitute against Gretna.



-He scored his first goal for Rangers in a 3-0 win over Aberdeen on 23 September 2007.



-After cruciate ligament damage, Naismith underwent surgery in May 2008 and was ruled out of action for up to a year.



-Naismith returned to action in December 2008, playing in a reserve match.



-Naismith made 25 league appearances during season 2009/2010 and received his first SPL winners medal after Rangers clinched back to back titles.



-On 22 December 2010, Naismith signed a new four-and-a-half year contract to stay with the Rangers, keeping him tied to the club until at least May 2015.



-Season 2010-11 proved to be Naismith's most prolific in a Rangers shirt, scoring 15 goals and he won both the Rangers players' player of the year and the supporters' player of the year.



-On 29th of October 2011, Naismith injured himself after attempting to tackle Aberdeen's Rob Milsom. A scan later confirmed that he had damaged his cruciate ligament and would be out of action for around nine months, ending his season.



-In June 2012, Naismith lodged an objection against his contract being transferred from Rangers to a new company set up by Charles Green.



-Naismith signed a four-year deal for Everton on 4 July 2012







Club Statistics





Kilmarnock:

2003/2004 season - 1 appearance 0 goals.

2004/2005 season - 27 appearances 2 goals.

2005/2006 season - 39 appearances 13 goals.

2006/2007 season - 43 appearances 19 goals.

2007/2008 season - 5 appearances 1 goal.







Rangers:

2007/2008 season - 31 appearances 5 goals.

2008/2009 season - 11 appearances 0 goals.

2009/2010 season - 39 appearances 4 goals.

2010/2011 season - 44 appearances 15 goals.

2011/2012 season - 15 appearances 9 goals.









International Statistics:

Scotland - 15 appearances 2 goals.









General Comments:



Naismith in my opinion is a very decent player. Not only can he grab you some goals, he always works very hard for his team and this is why so many fans respect him. I have watched Him play many times when he was at Rangers and he is never quiet in games, he has so much energy on the pitch. He may not be a striker that grabs you 20+ goals a season he is more of a player that sits between the lines and tracks back to help the defense. The Scottish league isn't the most challenging in the world, because of this its hard to rate players who play in Scotland. You see players going from Scotland to England and becoming flops (kris Boyd and many others) but then you see players such as Nikica Jelavic going to England and looking very impressive. Do i think Naismith will make it in England? honestly, it's hard to say but i have a feeling yes but only if they keep him fit. If they keep Naismith injury free he will put in a good shift but with his extremely dodgy knee it's unlikely he will last very long.



Overall Everton have got a hard working striker that does everything he can for his team and can also play on both wings. He has great technique when shooting and is also very good in the air. Unfortunately he gets a lot of injury's but Everton have nothing to loose after getting him on a free transfer.







Summary of Naismith:



Strengths - Workrate, Finishing, heading,vision, versatility and touch.

Weaknesses - Injurys and has played in a very weak league so hard to judge him.







Thanks.



Ed053-}