David Moyes has provided an update on team news and injuries ahead of Everton's game against Tottenham in the Premier League this weekend.
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Everton manager David Moyes has been speaking to the media ahead of their trip down to London to face Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
The Toffees are hoping to continue their unbeaten start to the season, looking to build on their five points from three games.
They face a Tottenham side who are once again struggling towards the bottom of the Premier League table, still searching for their first goal, never mind win.
Spurs has been a difficult place to go for Everton over the years, also losing away at Tottenham on the final day of the previous Premier League campaign, allowing Roberto De Zerbi's side to stay in the league.
Everton travel down to Tottenham this weekend in the Premier League as David Moyes' men look to continue their unbeaten run.roundtable.ioTottenham vs Everton: The Areas David Moyes' Side Can Exploit
Everton travel down to Tottenham this weekend in the Premier League as David Moyes' men look to continue their unbeaten run.
Ahead of Everton's game against Spurs, Moyes has been speaking to the media about the game ahead, their recent draw with Manchester United, and team news for the weekend's fixture.
LIVE: David Moyes' press conference quotes
Speaking on how Everton have started the season, Moyes has suggested that he's played in some aspects.
"Pleased in some aspects. I think we've played well in some of the games."
On Tyrique George, Moyes has praised the youngster for the start he's made at Everton.
"I think there are some great young players around the world who are younger than Tyrique and exciting everybody. I think Tyrique started well, but I think he still has a lot to learn. He will, anytime he's here. He got in the team and did very well for us, and I hope it continues."
Moyes has confirmed that Grealish is ready to play.
"I think Jack's a special case. I think he is ready to play. I think Jack's probably a boy who needs the football more than he needs the training. Sometimes, I think playing game time helps Jack, but in ways that are still about him building up to his best. I've got to say, though, that he's had a good week's training and is beginning to look ready to start."
Moyes has spoken about the upcoming international break.
"This window, I think everybody was fully aware of it because, after the World Cup, we were going to have to miss the month of September, probably the international break. That means there will be a lot more games, and a lot of players will end up playing a lot more minutes than others. That'll be something.
I'm sure all the clubs are looking to play behind-closed-doors games or games at the training grounds. There are a lot of games for the players going away, and injuries could be a problem as well. We've got to hope that our boys who do go away play, but maybe not the four games."
The Everton boss has also been speaking about the current size of the squad after a difficult summer transfer window.
"We can't really do an awful lot to minimise the risk because, obviously, games are games, and players can get injured, even in training. That's part and parcel of it, but having a bigger squad helps. If you've got a smaller squad, you've got a concern if something goes wrong.
"Obviously, you're probably talking about the free-transfer market. Are we looking for players out there? Of course, we're looking to see if there is anything that could be of use. I think, to be at the level we're at, getting someone who would really make a big difference is not an easy thing to pluck from that free transfer group."
"I think it is actually interlinked. A small group together. I think I mentioned that Leicester City won in the league a few years ago and what it was like. It looked like a small group of players had done that. It's probably less and less likely because of the number of games, the extra Champions League games, and the extra international games we've just talked about. That makes it so you really need extra players in your squad. We've not got European football this year, so maybe we can find a way of getting through with what we've got at the moment."
Moyes also speaks about his previous tenure at Everton and having a small squad after they previously sold Wayne Rooney.
"I think the change is probably the number of games, not necessarily for us, but if you look at all the squads, there are probably more substitutes on the bench than there were at that time.
"When you talk about the 21 players we have at the moment, three of them are goalkeepers, so you separate your goalkeepers from your outfield players, which takes it down to 18. I do think that sometimes having a tight group can work, but I'm not saying it will. I think if I had my choice, I would have rather had more numbers, obviously, but I certainly wasn't somebody who needed 24 outfield players or 25 outfield players. It wasn't that I was looking for.
"I've tried to work mainly with 21 outfield players, and that's the number I've tried to have. Sometimes, maybe 22 can be a bit bigger, a bit round that number, which would have been my choice. I think that's more because of the way the Premier League's gone and the changes we're seeing. We're seeing more managers now making five substitutes in lots of games than maybe we've done in the past, and I think that's the reason why the squads are much bigger."
Moyes has also spoken about the difficult decisions to make, particularly in the middle of the park.
"It's good, part of the job, to have decisions to make, and we've got some decisions to make. Hayden started well for us, and Jimmy's just come back. I thought Jimmy was much better against Manchester United than he was against Bournemouth. You can see that, but of all the players who got back from injury, Jimmy got himself back as quickly as MD and tried to be ready to play. He was tremendous in getting himself back, and we had to use him, partly for different reasons, in the game against Bournemouth a bit sooner.
"You're right, it's good. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as well: we've got one or two, so we've got some competition there. We're going to need it because we've just been talking about international games and the amount of football that a lot of players might have to play."
On Christian Norgaard, Moyes confirms that he won't be available for the game.
"He's still unavailable. We're hoping we get him back maybe somewhere after the international break. That would be our hope. No, we didn't expect it to be as long as this. He's hugely important for us, and we're looking forward to gaining from his experience and nous, and getting to know him. At the moment, we've not had him on the grass yet, so that's been the disappointing thing. Hopefully, it won't be too long."
Moyes has spoken about Tottenham specifically, comparing their situation from when Everton faced them last season on the final day.
"I think assessing that one game on its own wouldn't be the right thing to do, given what the crowd was like and the ferocity of the game. I think it was a different Spurs on that last day than maybe it is at the moment. Since then, Spurs have gone on to spend lots of money and bring in players to try to make sure they're not in that position again.
"It's not too long ago that we were in those sorts of situations regularly, trying to win games and being put in the position of a cup final, whatever you want to call it. We can only look after ourselves. I'm not too sure about Spurs. We'll try and do the best we can. We didn't quite make it there a couple of months ago. Hopefully, we can do it this time."
Once again, it appears that Norgaard could be the only injury concern for Everton heading into the game. Moyes confirmed that Grealish is ready to start, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him in the XI on Saturday.