Everton vs Blackburn Rovers preview - Moyes hails `great ambassador' Neville - 7M sport

Everton vs Blackburn Rovers preview - Moyes hails `great ambassador' Neville



I have a say

Posted Saturday, January 21, 2012 by PA

Everton captain Phil Neville celebrates his 35th birthday on Saturday with manager David Moyes hailing his professionalism.

Neville, who has just under 18 months remaining on his Toffees contract, found his first-team place under threat earlier this season but he is now firmly ensconced back in the line-up.

Moyes believes there is still a place in the high-tempo Barclays Premier League for players of his experience.

"I never realised he was 35 - he told me he was 32!" joked the Toffees boss.

"We are delighted with Phil. What he has given Everton in the time he has been here has been remarkable.

"He continues to work weekly and daily as if it is his last day. He has been a terrific professional and a great ambassador for Everton since he left Manchester United.

"It is undoubtedly a young man's sport but you see Paul Scholes and Thierry Henry coming back and people admiring what they can do.

"There is definitely a place in the sport if you can keep yourself fit and in good condition and that is the one thing Phil has done, he has really looked after himself.

"That is the reason he is still playing and playing very well."

Neville is set to captain the side at home to Blackburn on Saturday, most likely filling a hole in an injury-hit defence.

Everton have won just one of their last four league matches at Goodison Park and Moyes admits performances have not been at a level they should be.

"Goodison has been tough for us this year because it has always been where we take the most amount of points," added Moyes, whose team have won just three times on home soil.

"In truth me and the players have not offered the supporters enough to get them off their seats so I'm going to try to do that and get some wins.

"We want to get one or two wins which makes sure we get the points to be a Premier League side again and then we can move on from there.

"They are easy words to say but it is harder to do.

"We don't want to the teams challenging for European spots pulling too far away from us so that we can't make a challenge for them."

With centre-backs Phil Jagielka (knee) and Sylvain Distin (hamstring) still injured, Moyes has been looking around in the transfer market in an attempt to find adequate cover.

He also wants to strengthen up front and this week gave a trial to United States striker Edson Buddle, who plays for German Second Division side Ingolstadt.

"He has been in for a few days and we will have a look at it and talk about it over the weekend," said Moyes.

"I would like to add if I can.

"We are certainly short at centre-half right now and I have always said that if we can get a centre-forward in then that would be great."

Boss Steve Kean insists Blackburn are on the up after finally clawing their way out of the relegation zone.

Rovers travel to Everton with Kean confident that they can pull off another unexpected away win - even with top scorer Aiyegbeni Yakubu suspended against his old team.

Blackburn beat Manchester United at Old Trafford and drew with Liverpool at Anfield last month and have scored in every one of their away matches in the league this season.

Kean said: "I feel as though we are on the up, scoring goals and with people like Paul Robinson coming back into the side and Scott Dann has had a full week of training. All of a sudden there is a competition for places that can only be good.

"We have scored in every away league game this season so we should be able to go to Everton and get a result.

"David Moyes has done an absolutely fantastic job over the years on a small budget, and their gritty determination to get results means it is always a tough place to go.

"I know he has a couple of injury problems at the moment and he's going to have to deal with that but I'm sure he will put out a side that's competitive and hard to break down.

"But I feel we are on the up and are capable of going there and getting another good result."

Yakubu's absence makes it more likely that new loan signing Anthony Modeste could make his debut - if he receives international clearance in time.

Dann is also in contention for a return after recovering from a groin injury while Kean will judge Chris Samba's mental state after the defender had a transfer request turned down before deciding whether to include him.



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.