David Moyes on Everton's Recovery Challenges and Squad Depth
David Moyes admits Everton misjudged the recovery time of one of their signings and is still waiting to see him even set foot on the training pitch.
"I don't think we expected his recovery to take this long when we signed him," the Everton manager said. "We are looking forward to gaining his experience, but we haven't even had him on the grass yet. It is disappointing - for us and for him - but hopefully it won't be too long."
While one key figure remains absent, another is edging towards centre stage. Jack Grealish, Moyes says, is not the type to be eased in gently.
Grealish poised for first start since January
Jack Grealish is, in Moyes’ words, "a boy who needs football matches more than he needs training", and that could push him into contention for a first start since January this weekend.
"It will be incredibly exciting to have him in our starting line-up," Moyes said. "If he gives us what he gave us at the start of last season, we will be thrilled."
Everton arrive at the weekend still unbeaten, a platform Moyes appreciates without fully embracing.
Everton’s unbeaten run – and its limits
The run, he says, is "pleasing in some aspects", but he made no attempt to hide a sense of what might have been. Moyes "would have liked to get another win rather than a draw somewhere along the way", even as he praised his squad for doing "a really good job".
Part of that resilience, he believes, stems from the size of the group. Smaller, tighter, more connected.
"You only have to look at Leicester City's title-winning squad to see how their small group of players thrived," he said, drawing a clear line between numbers and togetherness.
"It's the amount of games which means you need the extra players, but we don't have European football this year so maybe we can find a way of getting through with what we've got."
He still knows what he would prefer.
Squad depth, free agents and a number in Moyes’ head
If he had the choice, Moyes would not be operating with such a lean squad. His ideal? "21 outfield players" rather than the 18 currently available.
Everton are already looking for help.
He confirmed the club are active in the free agent market, testing whether there is a realistic option to lift the level of the group. The challenge is obvious.
"It isn't easy to find a player who could make a difference" in the Premier League, he admitted, with the club trying to balance opportunity against quality at a point in the window when most difference-makers are long gone.
Tottenham test and a familiar struggle
Next up is Tottenham, still hunting their first league goal and win of the season. Moyes recognises the scenario all too well.
"It wasn't too long ago that we were in those situations as a club," he said. "We know we can only look after ourselves. We didn't quite make it over the line there a couple of months ago, so hopefully we do it this time."
Just as that challenge looms, the calendar offers another complication.
International break worries
The looming two-week international break, Moyes believes, will be "difficult for everybody to manage". Some players will rack up heavy minutes, others will barely feature. The imbalance worries him.
"There will be a lot of players who will end up playing a lot more minutes than others and injuries could be a problem as well," he said. "We've got to hope that our boys do play a bit, but maybe not all of the games."
A thin squad, a key signing still sidelined, Grealish on the brink of a return and Tottenham waiting. For Moyes, the next few weeks will reveal whether Everton’s tight-knit group is a strength to be celebrated or a risk that finally catches up with them.
