The England defender picked up the fans' player of the year and players' player of the year awards this week, and now wants fifth place sewn up tomorrow to send Everton into Europe for the third time in four seasons.

Only an Everton defeat at home to Newcastle, with Aston Villa winning at West Ham, will rob the Goodison Park club of fifth place - a position they have maintained since new year.

But with many critics - including Magpies manager Kevin Keegan - believing that fifth is as high as clubs like Everton can realistically aim considering the wealth of the top four, Lescott claims otherwise.

The 25-year-old said: "We will keep progressing. Everton were doing that before I arrived and in my first campaign here last season we finished sixth. Now we are one point away from improving on that by claiming fifth.

"We all feel we are going in the right direction and that in the next few seasons we can break into the top four.

"We have all made progress. At the beginning of my time here I suppose all I was concerned about was getting in the side and playing well, I was more interested in that rather than finishing fifth or sixth.

"That was my aim then. But now having played two seasons here and established myself, I am looking forward to next season and what we can all achieve as a club."

Having recently signed a new long-term contract, Lescott is happy he has committed the best years of his career to the Toffees.

He said: "I see my long-term future at this club now. We are beginning to get big-name players in here, and those looking in from the outside now want to be part of Everton's future, and why wouldn't they?

"Hopefully we can end the season on the right note on Sunday. Newcastle have been playing well but we are confident now in our own ability and we know we can get the right result."

For Lescott, fifth place and Europe would be the perfect end to a campaign that has seen him break into the England squad.

He arrived from Wolves two seasons ago having never played a top-flight game and with concerns over long-term injuries.

"I always believed that I could play in the Premier League. And although I still feel I can achieve more, I feel I have proved myself to a certain extent," Lescott said.

"The manager took the chance on me and I am grateful for that. Now I still aim to repay him, first on Sunday and then next season.

"I have had to play in a couple of different defensive positions this season, and I do not think it has hindered my international progress. But I would like to play more games in the centre of defence - I see myself as a centre-half.

"But the team has played exceptionally well with more than me playing out of position, so I cannot complain."

He added: "There will come a time when I am looking to play centre-half every weekend.

"But everyone accepts that we are not a top-four team capable of buying the world's best players and stick everyone in their right positions.

"All the players have to accept that and be willing to rotate, and I am no different."

Lescott is optimistic about Everton's prospects for next season if they can keep together and add to their current squad.

He added: "What this club has is a great camaraderie, a tremendous team spirit.

"If we can keep the boys together and add a few new additions, that will help.

"We all know we have to stay tight as a group, keep pushing, and we believe we will achieve even more next season."