Everton pile on the misery for Sunderland

January 28, 2010

Tim Cahill and Landon Donovan fired Everton to a 2-0 win over free-falling Sunderland as the Merseyside club’s revival gathered steam at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

Cahill’s seventh-minute header was quickly followed by Donovan’s first strike since his loan move from Los Angeles Galaxy and Sunderland never looked like recovering.

Steve Bruce’s strugglers, who went into the match with only one win in their previous 12 league matches, handed new signing Matthew Kilgallon a debut in defence and had influential midfielder Lee Cattermole back after more than a month out with a hamstring injury.

Everton recalled Leon Osman in place of Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and had injury victims Mikel Arteta, James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe, as well as loan signing Philippe Senderos, on the bench.

Everton needed only seven minutes to take the lead through Cahill. After making good progress down the left, Leighton Baines cut the ball back for Marouane Fellaini who, in turn, sent in a cross to the near post.

Cahill met it with a clever, flicked header that found the far corner of Craig Gordon’s net.

Baines and Cahill were both involved in Everton’s second with the defender punting a long ball forward and Cahill heading it into the path of Donovan, who beat Gordon from the edge of the area with a low left-foot drive.

It was the United States international’s first strike since joining Everton earlier this month.

Kenwyne Jones, who had been dropped to the Sunderland bench following weeks of speculation about a move away from the Stadium of Light, was introduced midway through the first half after Kieran Richardson went off with an ankle injury.

But Everton continued to dominate and Cahill could have claimed his second of the night after Louis Saha’s knock-on found him in the six-yard box but the Australian could only manage an uncharacteristically weak header.

Cattermole made way for Andy Reid at half-time while full-back John Mensah switched positions with centre-half Nyron Nosworthy.

But Everton kept coming and almost made it 3-0 when Osman released Donovan, who went round Gordon but saw his goalbound shot blocked by George McCartney.

A minute later Mensah produced a last-ditch tackle to deny Saha and Osman should have done better after being played in by Donovan.

With Everton in control, manager David Moyes could afford to send on Arteta and Vaughan for late runarounds, underlining how little threat Sunderland had posed.

LIVERPOOL (AFP)

Tags: andy reid, ankle injury, cattermole, Craig Gordon, David Moyes, far corner, foot drive, Galaxy, George McCartney, Goodison Park, james vaughan, john mensah, kieran richardson, landon donovan, Lee Cattermole, leighton baines, leon osman, Liverpool, los angeles galaxy, Louis, louis saha, matthew kilgallon, Mensah, Merseyside, Mikel Arteta, minute header, philippe senderos, Steve Bruce, tim cahill, united states international, Vaughan, Victor Anichebe

In-form Birmingham end Everton´s hopes of Wembley return

January 23, 2010

Christian Benitez and Barry Ferguson fired in-form Birmingham into the FA Cup fifth round as the Blues defeated Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Alex McLeish’s side are now unbeaten in 15 matches in all competitions after their first away victory over Everton since 1957.

Everton, who were last season’s FA Cup runners-up against Chelsea, were well below their best and never recovered from Benitez’s early goal.

Ferguson added a second for Birmingham before half-time and Leon Osman’s second half strike for Everton wasn’t enough to keep their Wembley dreams alive.

It was Ecuador striker Benitez who set the tempo in the seventh minute.

After a free-kick broke down for the home side, Ferguson ran clear and superbly switched play to the right wing with a fine ball to Keith Fahey.

Fahey then delivered a wonderful cross into the box and Benitez headed past Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Everton were unbeaten in six matches going into this encounter, including a draw against Arsenal and a fine win last weekend against Manchester City.

However, for most of the first half, they played like a team devoid of ideas and inspiration.

Birmingham’s discipline and work ethic has seen them rise to eighth in the Premier League and McLeish’s team again demonstrated their capacity for hard work as they crammed into midfield and starved Everton of space.

The likes of Phil Neville, Steven Pienaar and Marouane Fellaini grew increasingly frustrated at the lack of attacking opportunities and the home side’s day got worse after 40 minutes when Birmingham scored a contender for goal of the season.

Fahey brought Sebastian Larsson into play on the right wing and although his cross looked poor, Ferguson created something from nothing when he dummied and stepped over the ball in a move which completely threw the Everton defence.

James McFadden beautifully clipped the ball back to Ferguson who then curled past Howard as the Everton defence stood and watched.

Everton announced before the match that they had signed Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos on-loan until the end of the season and he may be getting his chance sooner rather than later after their failings here.

Mikel Arteta had been named in Everton’s squad for the first time since he ruptured his cruciate ligament playing against Newcastle last February, yet Moyes resisted the crowd urgings to bring him on at half-time to try and improve Everton’s attacking composure.

But it became clear after the break that Everton were not going to exit this season’s FA Cup without some resistance and they dragged themselves back into the contest with a superbly worked finish from Osman after 56 minutes.

Leighton Baines brilliantly beat Stephen Carr’s lunge and laid off to Pienaar and after his simple pass along the edge of the box found Osman, the midfielder placed past Hart to make it 2-1.

It ignited the Goodison Park crowd and Everton side poured forward. Saha missed two close opportunities as he firstly steered a shot over the bar before hitting the post shortly afterwards.

As City counted down the minutes until the end, Fellaini shot straight at Joe Hart when he should have scored and an injury time effort from the Belgian somehow shaded wide when it had looked certain to sneak in.

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: alex mcleish, barry ferguson, Birmingham, CHELSEA, christian benitez, contender, England, FA Cup, fahey, Ferguson, free kick, Goodison Park, James McFadden, Joe Hart, Keith Fahey, leon osman, Liverpool, manchester city, midfield, Mikel Arteta, NEWCASTLE, phil neville, philippe senderos, premier league, Sebastian Larsson, stephen carr, steven pienaar, striker, tim howard, Wembley, wonderful cross, work ethic

Scholes urges Fergie to carry on and on

November 21, 2009

Paul Scholes has urged Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson to shelve any thoughts of retirement and continue in the job for as long as he can.

Ferguson, who turns 68 on December 31, recently celebrated his 23rd anniversary at the helm at Old Trafford and is widely expected to step down at the end of this season or next, having said previously he will not continue into his 70s.

But midfielder Scholes, who has served under Ferguson for more than 15 years, believes the manager can add to his vast array of honours at United, which includes 11 Premier League titles, two European Cups and five FA Cups.

“His record speaks for itself,” said the former England international ahead of Everton’s visit to Old Trafford on Saturday.

“Twenty-three years is a long time and, hopefully, he can continue to be here and win trophies for a long time to come.

“Other teams don’t have the benefit of having a manager for so long.

“I think it goes to show what can be achieved if you have a manger for so long and the trophies they can win. I’ve known no different.

“When I played for England there was a change of manager from time to time and it probably didn’t seem to help most of the time.

“I’ve been lucky enough to play under one manager and it has been great.”

Ferguson will be in the dugout at Old Trafford after it was confirmed that the two-match touchline ban he received for questioning the fitness of referee Alan Wiley will not start until next week.

Following the international break, United, who hope to welcome back Nemanja Vidic to the defence, resume their Premier League campaign five points behind leaders Chelsea following a 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge in their last outing.

But Everton have not won a league match at Old Trafford for 17 years and make the short journey with a string of injury problems.

Long-term casualties Leon Osman, Phil Neville, the former United player, Victor Anichebe, Phil Jagielka and Mikel Arteta are nearing a return to action but the match is expected to come too soon for any of them to feature.

Nevertheless, Everton defender Tony Hibbert is looking forward to testing himself against former team-mate and friend Wayne Rooney.

Full-back Hibbert, who has already made 17 appearances for Everton this season, relishes his tussles with Rooney, who he remains friendly with despite the striker’s acrimonious departure from Goodison Park in 2004.

“There’s always banter with Wayne and I talk to him a lot throughout the games,” said Hibbert.

“He always gives a lot back. It’s a good laugh. We haven’t had the best of runs there, or at our place, and hopefully one day we can change it around.

“You go to Old Trafford expecting what you always get. It’s hostile, the fans are all going to be up for their players. But you just have to get your head down and play.”

David Moyes’s record at Goodison Park has resulted in him being tipped as a possible candidate to succeed his fellow Scot Ferguson at United, but the Everton boss has found the going tough this season.

With injuries having taken their toll on performances and results, his side currently lie 12th in the Premier League, with only 15 points from 11 games in which the normally watertight Everton defence has leaked 17 goals.

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: alan wiley, dugout, england international, fa cups, five points, league campaign, league titles, leon osman, manager alex ferguson, Mikel Arteta, old trafford, paul scholes, Phil Jagielka, premier league, twenty three years, Victor Anichebe, vidic

Injury setback for Everton´s Jagielka

November 7, 2009

Everton defender Phil Jagielka could be sidelined until January after undergoing a second knee operation, the Premier League side revealed on Saturday.

Jagielka, 27, has been off the pitch since damaging knee ligaments in April but had been hoping to return to action before the end of November.

However he underwent surgery again on Wednesday on a small cartilage tear and Everton manager David Moyes said his return could now be pushed back.

“Jagielka had an operation on a tear in his meniscus, which is the cartilage in his knee,” said Moyes.

“We think (it has set him back) four to six weeks. He was down initially but he’s on the road to recovery now.”

Moyes told the official club website that striker Victor Anichebe has also suffered a complication in his recovery from a knee injury.

Anichebe has not played since February and the 21-year-old appears some way off a return to the first team.

Moyes said: “Victor’s not in a good way either. He had the pin taken out four to six weeks ago which had been catching on the side of his knee.

“Now what has happened (is that) he has a massive growth of bone and has a really big knee at the moment. We don’t know how long it will be.”

The double blow simply adds to Everton’s recent woes.

They have not won in their last seven games and also saw Mikel Arteta suffer a setback in his recovery from knee ligament damage earlier this week.

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: cartilage tear, David Moyes, double blow, England, knee injury, knee ligament damage, knee ligaments, knee operation, last seven games, Liverpool, liverpool england, massive growth, meniscus, Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, pitch, premier league, setback, six weeks, striker, Victor, Victor Anichebe, woes

Spurs boss sees brighter future for Bentley

October 28, 2009

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is optimistic that misfit midfielder David Bentley may have turned the corner at White Hart Lane after inspiring his team to victory over Everton in the fourth round of the League Cup.

The former Blackburn star created the first of Spurs’ goals in a 2-0 win on Tuesday which heaps more pressure on disgruntled Toffees manager David Moyes, who refused to turn up to the post-match press conference.

“His (Bentley) attitude in training has not been as good as it could have been, I’ve told him and he accepts it, but I thought he was fantastic here,” Redknapp said of his inconsistent midfielder.

“He’s a decent boy with great ability but with Aaron Lennon playing so well I think he couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.

“He got the opportunity and took it with both hands. It will be very hard not to play him at the Emirates,” the ex-West Ham boss said, referring to Saturday’s north London derby with Arsenal.

“It all depends on David Bentley. It’s up to him to keep performing like that, whether he wants to stay or leave, but I want to keep him.”

Former Arsenal player Bentley was named the man-of-the-match but admitted when picking up his award that his attitude had been questionable of late, claiming that his mind had wandered away from football.

“It’s been a difficult time since I’ve been here. I’ve encountered every problem in the book and it’s just nice to get my head down now and hopefully concentrate on football,” he said.

“I just looked to enjoy myself and give 100 per cent. Sometimes my efforts have been lacking at times because I haven’t been fully focused on football.”

The 15-million-pound man had looked threatening in the early stages of Tuesday’s victory without an end product, and it was no surprise that when he found his range Spurs took the lead.

His curling ball into the box evaded everyone until it reached Tom Huddlestone at the far post, the former Derby man smashing an emphatic left-foot drive past Tim Howard in the Everton goal.

Victory was sealed by Ireland’s Robbie Keane who scrambled home a volley after Tim Howard had saved the striker’s penalty kick, inspiring the White Hart Lane faithful to believe they could make it three finals in as many years.

Redknapp admitted that the team’s performance had given him a headache after rare starters Roman Pavlyuchenko, Gareth Bale and Alan Hutton all impressed.

“Hutton worked hard and has given me a nice problem for Saturday, it’s an interesting selection problem,” he said.

“(Jonathan) Woodgate has had a scan and there’s no fracture of the cheekbone but I don’t know if he’ll be fit for the weekend. Pavlyuchenko did OK but Crouch will be available hopefully,” the former Portsmouth boss added.

Moyes was reportedly furious that his Everton team had not been given an extra day to recover after playing Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday and Bolton in the Premier League on Sunday.

His refusal to talk to the press was apparently a protest at the cup’s organisers but now his attention must turn to trying to reverse his team’s poor start to the season.

Moyes’s thin squad has been exposed by injury, particularly by those to key players Phil Jagielka and Mikel Arteta, and a third defeat in six days, including a 5-0 drubbing by Benfica, signals a mini-crisis at Goodison.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Aaron Lennon, Alan Hutton, arsenal player, bentley, blackburn, David Bentley, David Moyes, emirates, everton, far post, foot drive, Gareth Bale, Harry Redknapp, Hart Lane, heaps, Ireland, light at the end of the tunnel, london, midfielder, Mikel Arteta, north London, Phil Jagielka, Portsmouth, pound man, premier league, Robbie Keane, spurs, tim howard, tom huddlestone, west ham, white hart lane

Spurs and Everton seek League Cup revival

October 27, 2009

Tottenham Hotspur and Everton will both be hoping to reignite their stuttering seasons when the English top-flight duo meet in the fourth round of the League Cup at White Hart Lane here on Tuesday.

Spurs started the campaign in electrifying form but a 1-0 home defeat against Stoke on Saturday has tempered dreams of a top four finish and increased the importance of the League Cup to the north London club.

Everton’s injury-ravaged squad were humiliated in Portugal in last week’s Europa League fixture, going down 5-0 to Benfica, and then were cruelly beaten late on by Bolton in a five-goal encounter in the Premier League on Sunday.

Toffees captain Phil Neville has criticised the scheduling of Tuesday’s game, claiming it doesn’t give Everton enough time for much needed recovery.

“The fact that we’re playing on Tuesday is nothing short of a disgrace,” Neville told the BBC.

“Somebody, somewhere is probably sat in their office not bothered about the fact we want to win the League Cup but that is something we can’t control,” the former Manchester United player added.

“We’ve handled situations like this in the past. When the chips are down and our backs are to the wall and people are writing us off, that’s when this club gels together.”

Everton manager David Moyes will see the League Cup as his team’s best chance of silverware this season.

Last year’s FA Cup finalists have had their small squad hugely exposed by injury with Moyes critical of his team’s defence, saying they were “soft-centred at the moment”.

Long-term casualties Phil Jagielka, Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta and striker Yakubu have now been joined on the treatment table by defenders Leighton Baines and Joseph Yobo and midfielder Steven Pienaar.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp will also be hopeful of another trip to Wembley in a competition which has proved kind to the Londoners in recent years.

The Lillywhites have won the trophy four times, most recently under the stewardship of Juande Ramos in 2008 when they beat Chelsea 2-1 in the final. They advanced to the final last season but were beaten on penalties by Manchester United.

Redknapp will hope to have the services of tricky winger Aaron Lennon at his disposal despite the England man taking himself off against Stoke, defying the wishes of his manager.

“I was hoping he could stay on but he couldn’t and suddenly we were down to 10 men. We’re not sure what the problem is. He just said he couldn’t carry on and that was that,” Redknapp said.

“I didn’t give him a nudge, I just said to him we would only have 10 men and could he play on, but he said his ankle was too sore.

“I don’t want to say any more, I don’t want to cause an issue. It’s not about England, he’s got big games coming up for Tottenham,” the former Portsmouth manager added.

Redknapp’s team struggled to break down a resilient Stoke side in the absence of in-form striker Jermain Defoe, suspended after his sending-off against Portsmouth.

The livewire striker will be available on Tuesday but Redknapp will still be without midfielder Luka Modric, who has a fractured leg.

Redknapp, recently at the centre of mysterious rumours regarding his future at the club, expressed his hope that injury-plagued captain Ledley King would stay on at the Lane.

“Ledley is a big part of this club, as a player and a person,” Redknapp said of the centre-back.

“He played 25 or whatever games last year, a good quota. If we can get 20-odd games out of him this year, then he will be more than worth his money in my opinion.

“He is a kid that has come through the youth team, a good example to everybody here, so I would want to keep him.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: benfica, David Moyes, fa cup finalists, Harry Redknapp, Hotspur, joseph yobo, juande ramos, leighton baines, lillywhites, manchester united player, Mikel Arteta, north london club, Phil Jagielka, phil neville, playmaker, steven pienaar, toffees, white hart lane, yakubu

Neville: Toffees will bounce back

October 24, 2009

Everton’s injured captain Phil Neville insists the Toffees will bounce back from their Europa League humiliation in Lisbon.

Everton face a quick turnaround and a tough Barclays Premier League clash at Bolton tomorrow, still struggling with nine players doubtful because of injury.

Neville will not be back from his knee problem until Christmas but still travelled to Portugal on Thursday for what became a disastrous 5-0 defeat by Benfica.

But Neville said: “When the chips are down and our backs are to the wall and people are writing us off, that is when this club gels together – and we will do that, I am sure of it.

“Everyone is disappointed after Lisbon, but we have to win on Sunday now to put that result behind us.

“They had world-class players, but I’m sure when we get them back to Goodison and we get everybody fit – because we had a really inexperienced side out – it will be a different game.”

Everton suffered their worst European defeat but are already planning their revenge in the return fixture.

“You will see a different Everton side next time,” Neville predicted.

“I am convinced we can beat them.

“The scoreline tells you we made five mistakes. We can’t make those mistakes against top European sides if we want to progress and win this competition – which we do.”

Everton were missing 11 players in Lisbon. But two – John Heitinga and Lucas Neill, who were ineligible for the match – will both play at the Reebok .

Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov will have a scan on a groin strain but may be fit to face Bolton.

But Leighton Baines, Joseph Yobo, Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar, Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, Neville, Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan are all likely to still be unavailable.

Boss David Moyes said: “The players gave everything on the night.

“We were up against a very good team, and I would like to face them when we have a full side out. That will happen in a couple of weeks when Benfica come to us.

“We had a lot of youngsters, and they will learn from facing top players. But I cannot fault the effort.

“I do not really know yet who may be back from injury, that is up to the medical department. I will just have to wait and try to find 11 players to face Bolton.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: barclays premier league, benfica, captain Phil Neville, David Moyes, different game, everton, groin strain, james vaughan, john heitinga, joseph yobo, knee problem, leighton baines, leon osman, Lisbon, Lucas Neill, Mikel Arteta, Neville, Phil Jagielka, phil neville, portugal, premier league, scoreline, steven pienaar, toffees, Victor Anichebe

Everton get work permit for Banega

August 22, 2009

Everton are set to sign Ever Banega on season’s loan from Valencia after securing a work permit for the Argentina midfielder on Saturday.

The 21-year-old is expected to arrive on Merseyside shortly to complete the deal and Everton manager David Moyes is looking to employ Banega in a similar role to Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta, who is currently sidelined with a knee ligament injury.

“Our application for a work permit has been passed and hopefully we will get to see him in a few days,” Moyes said.

“He has very good ability and is a little bit similar to Mikel Arteta in lots of ways in that he can retain the ball and pass it.

“Ever is on a year’s loan. If he’s good then we will keep him, if he’s not we can always send him back.”

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: Argentina, David Moyes, England, everton, few days, knee ligament injury, little bit, Liverpool, liverpool england, Merseyside, Mikel Arteta, Moyes, playmaker, Valencia, work permit

Moyes faces fight to keep Everton on upward curve

August 2, 2009

David Moyes’ ability to keep Everton hot on the heels of the Premier League’s top four could be seriously tested in the coming season.

Moyes, who replaced fellow Scot Walter Smith at Goodison Park, has proved to be a managerial revelation, transforming a club who were perennial relegation candidates into consistent top 10 finishers.

He has won the League Managers Association Manager of the Year on three occasions since joining Everton and with extremely good reason.

Last season was perhaps Moyes’ most satisfying as he led an injury-ravaged squad to fifth in the Premier League as well as the FA Cup final, where they were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea.

However, all is not well on the blue half of Merseyside – primarily because Everton have no money to spend on new recruits.

And in the Premier League, clubs simply cannot afford to stand still in the manner Everton are doing.

The club’s owner Bill Kenwright is a lifelong fan and highly publicised ‘local boy’, which has bought him some leverage with the Goodison fans who at least appreciate that his heart is in the right place even if his wallet is empty.

He accepts that the cupboard is bare and that he can provide precious little money to help Everton build on last season’s finish.

Kenwright said: “When I get the texts ’saying are we signing Kaka or Messi?’ then of course I would love to make that happen, but the truth is we couldn’t even afford their wages. This football club needs money.

“I can’t go on like this every year because the pressure is far too great.

“David Moyes must be sitting there looking at these figures thinking: ‘They have given me nothing again and they want me to get into the Champions League’.”

Everton’s lack of finances causes two major issues.

Firstly, it prevents them from bringing in top quality new players and secondly it means other clubs know Everton are vulnerable to high bids for their players because the club desperately needs the cash.

This close season has proved both those points emphatically.

Everton’s only acquisition has been Brazilian striker Jo from Manchester City on a 12-month loan.

But despite his reasonable return during another loan spell with Everton last season, he is hardly the proven goalscorer that fans are craving.

The second issue – the fact that having no money makes clubs circle Everton like a vulture, eager to pick off their best players – also involved Manchester City in the guise of Joleon Lescott.

Since moving to Everton from Wolverhampton in 2006, Lescott has steadily improved into one of the Premier League’s most consistent defenders.

That has prompted City manager Mark Hughes to bid 20 million pounds for the player, safe in the knowledge that Everton will have to be open to such transactions – regardless of the club’s official line.

Moyes has done his best to deny that he has to break up last season’s squad but behind-the-scenes, the 20 million pounds Lescott would bring would be a huge boost.

Yet despite the lack of financial clout, it is not all negative for Everton.

The emergence of Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling last season should cheer Everton fans as will the return from long-term injury of Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka and Ayegbeni Yakubu.

Everton managed to perform above and beyond expectations last season.

If they can fend off other clubs’ interest in their players and perhaps dredge up the cash to bring in a couple themselves, Moyes may well be in line for his fourth Manager of the Year award at the end of the season.

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: bill kenwright, champions league, CHELSEA, CITY, cupboard, Dan Gosling, David Moyes, England, fa cup final, fellow scot, football club, good reason, Goodison Park, hot on the heels, Jack Rodwell, league managers association, leverage, lifelong fan, Liverpool, manchester city, Mark Hughes, Merseyside, Mikel Arteta, new recruits, Phil Jagielka, premier league, premier league clubs, Scot Walter Smith, wages, wallet, walter smith

Everton boosted by trio signing contract extensions

June 4, 2009

LIVERPOOL (AFP) – Beaten FA Cup finalists Everton were boosted on Wednesday as international trio club captain Joseph Yobo, Tim Howard and Phil Jagielka signed contract extensions with the club.

England international defender Jagielka was Everton’s player of the season but the former Sheffield United star missed the 2-1 FA Cup final defeat by Chelsea last Saturday because of a serious knee injury.

Nigerian international defender Yobo was Everton manager David Moyes first signing in 2002, while American international goalkeeper Howard joined on loan in 2006 from Manchester United and signed a permanent deal in 2007.

Moyes, whose feats in guiding Everton into next season’s Europa Cup and to the FA Cup final on a relatively limited budget by Premier League standards saw him named League Manager’s Association’s (LMA) manager of the year, was delighted to have secured their signatures to new deals.

"It’s great that three valuable members of the squad have committed themselves to the club for a lengthy period," said Moyes, who earlier in the week rejected overtures from Scottish giants Celtic to replace Gordon Strachan as manager.

"Tim, Phil and Joseph have been big players for us over the last few years and it’s great news that they will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.

"I have been pleased with the way we’ve gone about our business. We spoke to Phil, Tim and Joseph and we got everything done and dusted efficiently and quietly, which is the way we like things to be done."

Moyes has already stressed he has no plans to sell any players from his squad, but he acknowledges he has to strengthen if he is to have any chance of improving on last season’s fifth-place finish in the Premier League.

Everton were devastated by serious injuries, with Jagielka’s ruptured knee ligament the last in a long line which saw the seasons of Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Achilles), Mikel Arteta and Victor Anichebe (both knee) ended prematurely.

Further injuries to Louis Saha, James Vaughan and Nuno Valente saw the Toffees play most of December and January without a recognised centre-forward.