Neville issues a Euro warning to team-mates

Sep 25 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

PHIL NEVILLE believes Everton must undergo a crash course in dealing with the extra demands of European football if they are to drag their season back on track.

David Moyes’s side ended a difficult week by slumping to a 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Sunday, the setback coming less than 72 hours after their frantic 1-1 draw at home to Metalist Kharkiv in the UEFA Cup.

Everton’s new-look squad faces another test when they journey to Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow in the third round of the Carling Cup, the third of six games in 18 days.

And despite dismissing any notion of tiredness, skipper Neville admits the Goodison outfit must adapt to competing both home and abroad if they are to improve their form of just one win in their last six games.

“We need to get back on track very quickly at the moment,” he said. “That’s what playing in Europe can sometimes do to you.

“But we need to show a bit of fighting quality now and spirit, that we’ve got in abundance, and make sure we get back on track in the league.

“Playing Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday is something definitely we all want. There is no point moaning about it, which we are not doing to be fair.

“Ever since I came to Everton I wanted to play Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday and, now we are in the situation, let’s get on with it, let’s enjoy it and let’s not be fearful of the challenge. Middlesbrough have suffered from it in the past when they were getting beaten in the league after playing UEFA Cup games. It is something we needed to handle.

“People talk about tiredness – but tiredness is in the mind. Sometimes you can use it as an excuse. We had two days’ rest after Thursday’s game and on Sunday we were fresh. I don’t think fitness was a problem against Villa.”

Since netting three times at Tottenham Hotspur, Everton have scored only four goals in the subsequent six games.

And Neville admitted: “Maybe we are just lacking a little bit of cutting edge at the moment and we need to start creating chances for our forwards. There are a few players in the team, myself included, who need to play better basically. Over the next few weeks, sooner rather than later, we need to do it.”

Meanwhile, Barnsley manager Simon Davey is keen to extend the loan spell of Anderson De Silva.

Davey said: “I am hoping to get him for a longer period. I’ve spoken to Everton once about it and am waiting to have more talks.”