BY the time the British season draws to a close at the end of May, Nikica Jelavic could find himself topping two blue scoring charts.

Having netted 14 times for Rangers before his January move to Everton, the Croatian is unlikely to be caught by anyone in Ally McCoist's squad as the Ibrox side play out the final fixtures of a season to forget, both on and off the field.

Everton, on the other hand, head into the closing stages with plenty at stake as they chase silverware and European football.

Jelavic will stride out at Wembley tomorrow afternoon as Davie Moyes' side face Liverpool for a place in the FA Cup final with the weight of expectation from the blue half of Merseyside on his shoulders.

With five goals in eight appearances for the Toffees so far, the Croatian has already gone some way to justifying his £5.5million price tag, and former Goodison Park boss Joe Royle reckons it has been money well spent.

"They had a great transfer window," he said. "A lot of clubs criticise the transfer window but Darron Gibson came in, Steven Pienaar came back, Jelavic, they did great business in January.

"If you point him in the direction of the goal, he will hit the target. He does look like a finisher, which is probably what Everton have needed all along.

"The last time I checked, their leading scorer was still the left-back (Leighton Baines) with about six. That tells you how hard goals have been to find for Everton this year. Jelavic gives great promise of a striker who can get near 20 goals next season."

Having ended his goal- laden 18 months in Glasgow to test himself in the Premiership, the Croatian inter-national finds himself crucial to Everton's chances of success.

His extra-time winner in last season's League Cup final clinched derby final glory for Rangers over Old Firm rivals Celtic and now it is on Merseyside the former Ibrox star is bidding to become a hero.

Royle had a distinguished career as a player at Goodison Park before taking to the dugout in the mid-1990s.

He has seen his former club hit top form in recent weeks, hauling themselves ahead of Kenny Dalglish's side in the Premiership standings, and he is confident the Toffees will rise to the occasion at Wembley.

He said: "Everton are going into it probably in better form than Liverpool. They are without their first and second-choice goalkeepers but Everton are unfortunately without Pienaar, who has been outstanding since his return in the transfer window.

"It is hard to call derby games at the best of times. Of course Everton can win, though. They are in great form at the moment, they are doing their customary second half of the season race for the line, and this time in the cup again.

"They have climbed up to seventh again in the Premier League and it seems a long time ago since Christmas when people were talking about relegation and is Davie Moyes the man for the job?

"That is football for you. It has changed, the fans are totally behind them now and looking forward to it."