Meanwhile, Tim Howard believes Leon Osman’s England call-up is recognition for Everton’s impressive form this season.

Osman has been an influential figure as Moyes’s side have fought their way into the Champions League qualification places by losing just one of 11 Premier League games this season, a sequence which extends to one of their last 20 top-flight matches including the end of the previous campaign.

The 31-year-old became the third oldest England debutant since 1954 behind Steve Bould and Kevin Davies.

And Howard said: “This could be a blanket statement for the whole team but I don’t think I’ve been more excited for a human being than I was for Ossie.

“You’re talking about one of the greatest guys to be around, a guy who’s hard-working and so deserving of that call-up. There have been a heck of a lot less deserving guys down the years to get caps.

“He’s just so fantastic and he’s been a rock for this club. I was delighted for him; so, so happy.”

Kevin Mirallas will sit out Saturday’s match at struggling Reading after limping out of last weekend’s win against Sunderland with a hamstring problem. There were fears the Belgium international could be sidelined for a lengthy period, but scans have since revealed no serious damage with the winger now expected to be available for the visit of Norwich City on November 24.