TYPICAL. You wait an eternity for a penalty shoot-out victory then, just like those fabled London buses, two come along at once.

But while the stakes were nowhere near as high in the Utah Mountains early yesterday morning as they had been at Wembley in April, David Moyes will have taken heart from the fact that Everton’s players remain so focused and so hungry for success.

Even Joleon Lescott.

There have been occasions in Everton’s recent past when a player has found himself the subject of a transfer bid and the tools have gone down in the blink of an eye; team-mates were left high and dry just when they needed help the most.

You might argue Lescott had no choice but to play against the MLS All-Stars, given that Everton were so low on numbers here, but we live in an era when player power dominates and it really would not have surprised had he been absent from the starting line-up.

So refreshing, then, to see him stretching every sinew late in the game when Everton found themselves having to cope with continued pressure from the All-Stars and having the ‘courage’ to take – and successfully convert – his side’s fifth spot-kick.

Lescott, undoubtedly, will have myriad thoughts running through his mind at present and the offer of a contract from Manchester City that is akin to winning the lottery every 12 months for the next five years must have turned his head.

Everton, though, are adamant that he will not be sold and Phil Neville feels the strength of unity in the dressing room, allied to the quality Lescott is surrounded by on the pitch, has left him with serious food for thought.

“I don’t think he needs anyone to tell him what we have got here,” said Neville, who flew home a happy man last night after getting his hands on his first trophy as Everton captain. “He sees that in training, he sees it in the camaraderie we have on nights out.

“But it is only Joleon that can decide. We are the most consistent team outside the top four and have been the best team in that group over the last three seasons. The facts are there. We are a club going places, the foundations we have here are strong.

“The structure is strong and it looks like the manager is going to be here forever. He is building a football club, not just a football team. Joleon knows that. I’m sure he does.”

However, Lescott also knows what is on offer down the other end of the M62; City have been anything but clandestine in their pursuit and, given that he once used to play his football at Old Trafford, it has certainly irked Neville.

“It’s not a nice situation for any player to be in when there is lots of speculation,” he pointed out. “But Joleon has remained tight to the group throughout. His professionalism is second to none and he has been outstanding on this tour.