DAVID MOYES GIVES PRESS CONFERENCE AHEAD OF ASTON VILLA VS EVERTON MATCH

Watch the pre-match press conference with Everton manager David Moyes ahead of their Premier League trip to Aston Villa at Villa Park this afternoon at 16.30 p.m.

Moyes confirms there are unlikely to be any major returns this weekend, despite being asked about players coming back from suspension, with Tim Iroegbunam, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carlos Alcaraz still not yet in full training, while Jarrad Branthwaite and Séamus Coleman have only just stepped up their work on the grass.

He reflects on Everton sitting four points off fifth, accepts it has been a difficult January with injuries, suspensions and Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, and says the team “needs players more than ever” but may struggle to do significant business this window.

Moyes praises Aston Villa’s investment and rise under Unai Emery into European and Champions League contention, describes Villa Park as a great place to play, rules out selling key players such as Ndiaye, and explains why he needs senior players back rather than relying on teenagers, even though he has a strong record of giving debuts to 16-year-olds.