David Moyes delighted with fixture pile-up

Dec 14 2007

DAVID MOYES believes Everton’s punishing fixture list can spur his players on to even greater heights.

The Blues have already played 23 matches so far this season and are currently in a run that will see them play another nine games - including the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final - in the next four weeks.

But results recently have shown that Everton are well equipped to deal with the extra workload that comes with challenging for success on four fronts - they are on an unbeaten run of 11 - and Moyes feels that some members of his squad are improving for it.

“I think European football is helping us but I actually think the extra games are helping too,” said Moyes, who may shuffle his pack when the Blues return to West Ham tomorrow.

“We have got into a groove and the players are benefiting from playing more often. They are playing better and getting more of an understanding with each other.

“We just need to make sure that we watch out for fatigue. But I have got to say the players are revelling in it.

“The competition we have for places seems to be spurring everyone on. I might make a couple of changes. I’ll see how everyone has recovered.”

Nuno Valente is pushing for a recall after missing the last three games with a hamstring problem, while Tony Hibbert, who was on the bench on Wednesday night at Upton Park, is also in the frame after recovering from back trouble.

One man, though, who has done his hopes of staying in the team no harm is Phil Jagielka. Moyes has been encouraged by the way his £4m summer signing from Sheffield United has performed in the past few weeks.

Jagielka was confined to a bit part role in the early months of his career at Goodison but is starting to show that he has settled down.

The manager anticipates further improvement now he has found his niche at the back.

“I have been pleased with Jags,” said Moyes. “He has been very versatile for us and filled a lot of roles at different moments.

“We brought him in to fit that bill and he has done that. He has been making a steady improvement.

“Alan Stubbs will be back by the time Joseph Yobo goes away to the African Nations, so he will give us something extra.

“We have known that for a long time, though, and that’s why we want Jags around.”