Experienced players are inspiration for Everton - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Experienced players are inspiration for Everton

Everton manager David Moyes admits that his captain Phil Neville and other strong characters are making his job easier in the drive for a return to Europe.

They know a point against Fulham at Goodison Park tonight will take them back above Tottenham into the Premiership top six.

Helping hand: players have made life easier for David Moyes

But they will not settle for that and will go for the victory that will take them fifth above Bolton, Monday's opponents at the Reebok.

Moyes points to Neville and goalkeeper Tim Howard, who experienced successful finishes to campaigns at Manchester United, and a number of others for making any motivational talks from him almost redundant.

He said: "I've not set any real target overall. The players themselves are the ones doing that. I'm hearing them pressing each other to deliver. The group we have is full of internationals and some really talented players and they want to be involved in European football.

"I want winners and players to show that they are winners and we've got one or two in our squad and that's rubbing off on the others.

At this time of the season we have fallen away a few times in the past, so we are focused on getting as many results as we can during the run-in. They won't all go our way, but the players are doing all they can to make it happen.

"I had to change the mentality at Everton, and everyone now has to see that we are the type of side challenging for something at the end of every season. I see experienced players in our squad now, with a bit of nous about them, and I hear a good atmosphere about the place."

Scotland's James McFadden is back in the squad after missing the last 15 games following a freak training accident when he broke a metatarsal playing head tennis. He scored two goals when the reserves beat Newcastle on Tuesday.

Moyes said: "It's important he's back because we are depleted number wise, and Faddy can give us a few options because he can play up front and he can play wide. We could do with him right now. We need the competition for places, especially up front."

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