“Phil wanted to play and Manchester United couldn’t quite give him that all the time. And I was delighted when I got him.

“I remember going to sign him and thinking that he was the right person, the right type for the club and maybe, at the time, the right person for me as well.

“I needed somebody who I felt could lift the level of professionalism again and someone who had been a winner and come from a club that had been used to winning.

“People who I knew and people around him told me how good a professional he was. I had met his dad on a couple of occasions so I knew that he had some good stock.”

Moyes adds: “I think there were a lot of teams who wanted Phil Neville but I think Phil Neville wanted Everton.

“He looked, and he’s not daft, and he saw a team which is making progress and hopefully a hungry manager. Phil didn’t want to go somewhere to grass.

“I think he wanted to be part of something which was going to take another part of his career on and hopefully we’ve not let him down in that sense either.

“His level of professionalism and the way that he goes about his business is up there with the best. If he plays until he’s 36 or 37 I would understand it totally because he prepares for every game like it could be his last.

“I think now he’s proved everything he’s had to prove. He’s come away from Manchester United and been a good player. He remained in the England squad for a period and everyone here’s really pleased with him.”

With Gary Neville having regained his fitness, there is a chance the Neville brothers could lead their respective teams out at Wembley tomorrow afternoon.

And Moyes says: “I think it would be a terrific achievement for the family if that was the case. But I don’t think Alex works that way.

“And I don’t think there will be any sentiment from Phil Neville’s point of view. I think Phil will be really driven to try and get a result on the day.”