DAVID MOYES has dismissed claims that the signing of James McFadden further exposes Everton FC’s precarious financial position.

McFadden returned to EFC this week as a free agent having been released in the summer by relegated Birmingham City.

The Scotland international, who originally left Everton FC for St Andrews in January 2008, is recovering from a long-term knee injury and played 45 minutes for the reserves in midweek.

And Moyes is bewildered by the negative reaction in some quarters to McFadden’s arrival, and believes it is a gamble worth taking irrespective of Everton’s funds.

“I think James McFadden would be worth bringing in as a free transfer no matter what,” said the Goodison manager, whose team travel to Fulham in the Premier League tomorrow. “That’s why there were a few clubs in for him.

“We just need to check how quickly we can get him back playing after his knee injury, before he got injured he was arguably Birmingham’s best player.

“It’s amazing that we bring a player in who is on a free, we’re a bit short, and there’s an awful lot of attention drawn to it.

“Some clubs buy players for massive money and don’t play them or let them go on loan, and nobody says anything.

“We’ve brought someone in for nothing who we are going to use. What’s the big problem? What would people be saying if I’d brought Faddy in a few days before the deadline?”