The two face each other in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Paul Heckingbottom has a lot of time for his opposite number on Wednesday night, when Preston North End take on Everton.
Everton manager David Moyesplaceholder image
Everton manager David Moyes
North End host the Toffees in the second round of the Carabao Cup, and Heckingbottom is excited for the game against a manager he holds in high regard in David Moyes.
He was speaking to the press on Monday ahead of the match.
Previewing the clash, he told the club’s media team: “Yeah, good game for us. You always want to progress in the Cup and we managed to do that, and then we've got a really good draw.
“Premier League, one of the top sides who's in at this stage, at home for us, with our fans so, yeah, it's a good one. Looking forward to it.”
Heckingbottom spoke about his respect for Moyes, once a title-winning manager with PNE between 1998 and 2002, right at the start of his coaching career.
“[He’s] someone who, not just me, but I think everyone would look up to in terms of the longevity he's had in his career.
“He's not done. He wants more success. I discussed it with him in the past that I think one of my favourite moments in football is watching West Ham celebrate when they won the European final.
“Because it was pure elation. The players, the fans, David, the staff. I think sometimes it's a bit fake, some of the celebrations that go on now, and no way was that. So, it was a good moment.”
On what he expects from Moyes’ side on the night after their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, he told the Lancashire Post: “It's a tough team, a really good start to the season.
“Looking at the game at the weekend, they had a lot of energy in the team. David might might make changes. I hope they'll make one or two, he might make seven or eight, I don't know.
“But they had a good energy about them at the weekend and youthfulness in the team. They've got the option to keep that, they've got the option to bring other good players in.
“So, we'll be preparing what's best for us on the night, what's best for us as well going forward.”
When asked about rotating his own squad, he told the club’s media team: “You've seen the squads, what we had on the bench at the weekend, so we can't be picking another 11 players. We're not going to do that, and it wouldn't make us competitive enough anyway.
“We're going to prepare for the game, make ourselves as strong, competitive and organised as possible. We want to get through.
“But while we're trying to do that, as we do in every game, we're really mindful of what's around the corner at the minute and the one or two players that we need to look after.”
The PNE boss is looking forward to another night under the Deepdale lights, the first of the season, and knows how much of an occasion the visit of Premier League opposition is.
“Two seasons ago, we had Fulham here in the cup, that record-breaking penalty shootout. I think that was the third round, wasn't it? And then, Arsenal was the round after.
“Another good night for the fans. We'd love to do it again and bring some other teams here. But Everton are a tough team.
“I think this competition, clubs like Everton, while they'll be chasing Europe as high as they possibly can in the Premier League, it’s a great chance of silverware for the Premier League teams.
“We know that, we understand that. But we've just got to try and catch them out and, like I say, surprise them on the night.“
Heckingbottom says Odel Offiah is unlikely to be match-fit for this one, while Jusef Erabi is touch-and-go.
He told the Lancashire Post: “We’ll see [on Erabi]. Odel is progressing well, like I said, not a significant injury. But like we did with Gibbo at the weekend, we can't take the risk simply because we're light.
“We've got this game, we want to get through it. But then it's Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday. And we're looking to add players.
“Now, we can't afford to lose any through injury. We're light, we want players in through the door. And if we get players in through the door and we keep the squad fit and healthy, then it gives us a better chance in the short term.”
He added: “I have a big belief that cup runs, success, can go hand-in-hand with a good league form, definitely.
“But I also know, and I've experienced, that it can be a hindrance in terms of, if you do pick up injuries through an excess of games and you are still getting success in the cups, over the season it becomes harder and harder.
“So, you need that bit of luck when it comes to injuries and suspensions at key moments, of course you do. But you'd certainly rather be in the competitions than out of them.”