David Moyes said Dwight McNeil returned to Everton’s starting line-up for Saturday’s superb 3-2 win at Newcastle United

David Moyes explains surprise Dwight McNeil selection for big Everton win and blunt words
Dwight McNeil was making his first appearance for Everton since his transfer deadline day move to Crystal Palace collapsed and he played his part in the superb 3-2 victory at Newcastle United

David Moyes said Dwight McNeil returned to Everton’s starting line-up for Saturday’s superb 3-2 win at Newcastle United after impressing in training. The midfielder made his first appearance for the Blues since the collapse of his move to Crystal Palace, after which his partner publicly criticised the London club for their handling of the situation as it broke down.

McNeil was a surprise inclusion after not having played a minute for the club since the chaos of deadline day but was involved in the first two of Everton’s goals in their dramatic victory over Newcastle

Asked whether the former Burnley man had needed additional support to build towards his return after the disappointment of the failed move to Selhurst Park, Moyes was blunt in his response.

The Blues boss said: “Well, the club pays his wages, so I don’t think we should really need to support him too much. I don’t treat him any differently than I would treat any other player.

“I just told him to get on with it and he has done so. He’s trained really well this week and deserved the opportunity to start the team.”

McNeil was heavily involved in the first half and while he was knocked off the ball by Lewis Hall on a handful of occasions, he was influential in both halves.

He won possession inside his own half to start the move for the corner that Jarrad Branthwaite opened the scoring from, helping that attack to progress up the pitch with a cute pass inside to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

It was then his effort from distance that Nick Pope spilled into the path of Beto just 105 seconds after Jacob Ramsey had equalised.

Moyes had pulled McNeil to the touchline seconds before kick-off. Asked what he had told the 26-year-old, he said: “It was just something I’d forgotten to say to him, but all the messaging was done, obviously, prior to it.

“It was just a small point I wanted to message him. He hits the target with his shot, Dwight, he got caught on the ball a bit too often in the first half, but overall really pleased with him.”

McNeil was one of four changes to the team that lost to Manchester United and Vitalii Mykolenko, Beto and Jake O’Brien also played well.

Asked how satisfying that was, Moyes said: “[Jake] did a really good job. So did the [other] boys who came in. I expect it… Away from home, we’ve tended to find a winning solution, or maybe not a solution, but we’ve been able to get better results away than we have at home.

“I think the players did a great job today, I was really pleased. Beto gets his goal and did a good job all round.”

Beto had the chance to finish the contest when he brushed Malick Thiaw off the ball and burst through on goal in the second half, only to smash his effort against the bar. He was a nuisance throughout the game, though.

Moyes said the Guinea-Bissau international received his chance after Thierno Barry – who grabbed the winner – had struggled in recent matches.

Moyes said: “You have to do well. We accept that you don’t always score goals, but you need to do really well for the team, and hold the play, hold the ball up, and join in, and be creative. So we just saw that there’s been a couple of games Barry’s been a little bit off it, so we went with Beto.”