The fitness thing

The entire Everton squad is fitter this year than last, and it shows in the fact that we have fewer injuries, and are conceding fewer goals late on in games, which was a big problem under the Walter Smith regime.

Moyes said: "He admitted to me he needed to lose some body weight and he has done that. His body fat is lower and he looks in really good shape right now."

"That's down to him rather than the training here. People talk about us being a fitter side, but it is a fallacy to say that we run them hard every day. Everything's done with a ball and the intention is to produce good football players, not athletes."