IT seems not a transfer window passes by without David Moyes being asked the question: are Everton FC going to buy a new striker?

Finding the consistent 20-goals-a-season forward on a shoestring budget has become something of a Holy Grail for the Goodison manager in recent season.

So far, not so good. Yakubu prospered before being cruelly struck down by serious Achilles damage, Jermaine Beckford came and went while Louis Saha is fighting against injury and age.

Understandable, then, that there was barely a ripple of recognition when Moyes shelled out a minimal sum to sign teenage forward Apostolos Vellios from Greek side Iraklis in January.

It was precisely the kind of gamble on untried or under-appreciated talent the Everton manager has been forced to take throughout much of his Goodison reign, often with success.

After a smattering of substitute appearances last season, Vellios has been more involved this campaign with his clinching goal in last Saturday’s 2-0 win at Bolton Wanderers his third strike from the bench.

And even Moyes admits that, while still very much rough around the edges, the 19-year-old Greece under-21 international, who will most likely be on bench duty again from tomorrow’s Premier League visit of Stoke City, has exceeded expectations.

“When you pay what we did, 100 grand or so, you’re always a bit sceptical, especially when it’s a young player,” says the Goodison manager.

“But our needs were such that he had to go in, and his stature and size gives him a bit of presence.