As well as a key moment in his team’s season, Moyes believes the tackle was a watershed in Neville’s Everton career.

Sections of the Goodison faithful have taken a long time to warm to the former United man, with Moyes of the belief Neville was simply taking on too much responsibility and hanging himself out to dry on occasion.

Now the Everton support are fully appreciative of the former English international’s qualities, although Moyes admits the sheer consistency of the 32-year-old means he at times takes his captain for granted.

“I think that tackle against United was someone trying to take ownership and leadership of the team and taking the responsibility to try and make something happen,” says the Goodison manager. “That can be with a tackle, it can be with a pass or someone scoring.

“But Phil Neville did it for us with a tackle that day. He’s tried to take a lot of ownership for what goes on and he deserves a lot of praise for that.

“I think what it did was turn the support as well, because, in truth, it looked as though Phil Neville was going to be victimised.

“Sometimes he doesn’t get as much praise from me as he deserves because I take him for granted because I know what he can do. He’s regular, he doesn’t let me down and he’s consistent.

“He maybe doesn’t get as much praise from me as he deserves because week-in, week-out he puts himself on the line and, at times, he takes too much responsibility.

“I think there was a period when I said to him, ‘Don’t you be taking everything on your own shoulders’.”

“But I think if you asked Phil Neville, he’ll probably say that he’s as much at home here, if not more so, than he ever was at Manchester United.”

Moyes regard the signing of Neville for £3.5million from United in the summer of 2005 as one of his most savvy pieces of transfer business.

“When you look now and what he’s done leadership-wise and playing as well – he was an England international – you would have to say it was a great buy for us,” says the Scot.