Multimedia Background image for 'Everton manager David Moyes on the win at Fulham and the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley'

DAVID MOYES today hailed the maturity of young stars Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling that has put them into contention to start at Wembley.

Rodwell has been one of the success stories of this campaign and his progress was recognised yesterday when he was named by Stuart Pearce in the England Under-21 squad for this summer’s European Championships.

His performances over the past few weeks – notably in last Sunday’s 2-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage – have added weight to the theory that Moyes will name the 18-year-old from the start against Chelsea on Saturday.

But Gosling’s development has been just as impressive. His goal in the FA Cup fourth round replay that knocked Liverpool out gave the run to Wembley its momentum and he, too, is pushing hard to be included in the team Moyes will select.

“We ask the youngsters to be team players, to be very humble with the way they go about things,” said Moyes. “But we want them to show ambition and have a real love for football and in the main they have.

“Dan Gosling keeps nudging the bar, nudging himself up and I don't think he is out of place in the Premier League at the moment. Maybe at the start of the season, we wouldn't have said Jack or Dan would have been involved as much.

“But through circumstances opportunities become available, and they've thrown themselves in there and both got themselves a chance of playing in an FA Cup final at Wembley.

“It’s one of the silver linings of what happened in the summer. Sometimes from a negative you can get a positive, and you need to pick up on that and use it.”