DELIGHTED David Moyes has vowed to “get a lot more” out of Jo after the Brazilian’s impressive debut for Everton.
The 21-year-old, on loan from Manchester City until the end of the season after a miserable seven months at Eastlands, scored twice and also earned a penalty as Moyes’s side strolled to a 3-0 win over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
Moyes has tracked the Brazilian forward for some time and was interested in signing him from CSKA Moscow before City splashed out £18million on his services last summer.
And after Jo’s two-goal debut, the Goodison manager said: “I’m hoping to get a lot more out of Jo, I think he’s got a lot more to do that I want, but given the one game I’ve got to be really pleased with what he’s done against Bolton.
“He had a few shots – he had one when he went the outside and it was blocked, so you know he’s had a game where he could have had a couple of more goals, I mean if he keeps pulling the trigger on his shots and we can get the ball forward to him then hopefully he can score a few goals.
“I’ve only had him a few days, but what I’ve seen he seems a very nice, quiet boy and I’ve told him when he’s played a few more games and scored a few more goals then we’ll all samba together.”
Having already earned a penalty, Jo’s first Everton goal was a memorable one, the striker controlling a floated Phil Neville pass while facing away from goal, and swiftly turning away from marker Gary Cahill before volleying past Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
“It was a special goal,” said Moyes. “He probably started to feel good about himself again, you know, he had chances, he got the penalty, he probably started to think ‘I’m quite enjoying this again.’
“I’ve got no idea why it hasn’t worked out for him at City. They’ll know themselves.
“I thought there was probably two reasons. Maybe he couldn’t hack the pressure and pace of the Premier League and how quick it was, or maybe he’s just a boy coming from abroad who is going to need some time to settle in, which many foreign lads do.
“If it’s the latter then maybe we’re getting the benefit of it just now.”
Moyes also believes that Jo can benefit from the camaraderie among the Everton squad that has already going out of its way to make the newcomer feel at home.
“I’d have preferred to probably have broken him in a bit longer, but I’m glad I didn’t now, I’m glad I put him in because he certainly had a positive impact on the players playing in the side,” said the Goodison manager.
“I think the players have made the job of him settling in really easy – they’ve made a fuss over him and I think the lad realises he is a good player and he needs to just regain his confidence a little bit.
“I think if you’re going to come into our squad then you’re always going to have situation where you’re going to have to go along with it. The team all work hard for each other and they interact very well.”
Meanwhile, Moyes moved to praise Phil Jagielka after the centre-back earned a deserved call-up for England’s friendly against Spain in Seville this coming Wednesday.
“As far as consistent central defenders go there is no more consistent at the moment,” said Moyes.
“I think the boy is playing out of his skin, he really is. With defenders, you’ll keep putting them out if he’s reliable, you can trust him, and we can do that with Jags.”
