By Jon Shea
Everton face West Ham at Goodison Park on Saturday as Toffees boss David Moyes is reunited with his former side.
It is a battle between 15th and 16th in the Premier League, with both teams aiming to climb further away from the bottom three.
Team news
Moyes has confirmed that Armando Broja is closer to a return to action and could feature on the bench this weekend.
Youssef Chermiti and Seamus Coleman are getting fitter and will likely feature again on the bench.
Iliman Ndiaye, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dwight McNeil are all making positive progress.
Facing West Ham
Moyes will face West Ham for the first time since leaving the club in the summer.
He won the Europa Conference League with the club in 2023, and the Scotsman reflected on his time there.
“I’ve faced Everton with Manchester United and other clubs. I left a club that I really, really enjoyed,” he said.
“The times we had, after winning the European trophy and going back to see the East End of London was fantastic – I have a lot of close bonds with a lot of the players there.”
Moyes was quick to turn attention back to being Everton manager, however, saying: “We will both (Everton and West Ham) be hoping that the points we got could be enough, we want to improve and get better – so I have to go and beat West Ham.”
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Manager of the Month
The Everton boss has been awarded Premier League Manager of the Month for February, following Everton’s fine form, which sees them unbeaten in eight, and Moyes was beaming with pride.
He added: “I was absolutely thrilled (to be awarded Manager of the Month).
“The players and the staff have done a great job – the players especially, if you think about where they were a month or so ago.”
The Scot has drawn level with Pep Guardiola for the award, and only Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have won it more than Moyes.
He added: “I’m smiling at it because they are huge managers in their own right – they’ve been big winners.”
On visiting the new stadium
Moyes is yet to visit the new stadium and said he will not until he feels Everton are completely safe, saying: “Not yet (going to the stadium), I don’t think that points total (36 if Everton win), will guarantee safety.”
Moyes has made his goals clear for the club this season: “I want us to certainly be a Premier League club in a great new stadium.”
Huge changes at Everton
There have been huge changes announced at Everton as Director of Football, Kevin Thelwell, will leave his role at the end of the season.
Moyes paid tribute to him, saying: “Unfortunately, Kevin will be leaving his job, he’s done a great job for many, many years through some really difficult periods.
“[I’ve got] A lot of admiration for the work he’s done, but there is going to be a change, and all those bits are still being pieced together at the moment.”
It was announced that Thelwell’s replacement will be Leeds United’s CEO Angus Kinnear, and Moyes confirmed he has spoken with his new CEO.
“I’ve had one conversation with Angus, but I don’t want to disrupt him because he still has a job to do at Leeds,” he said. “We’re getting things together; we’re starting to plan.”
Backing for Jarrad Branthwaite
There was no place for Jarrad Branthwaite in Thomas Tuchel’s first squad as England manager and Moyes praised his centre-back.
“I don’t pick the England squads, but if you’re looking at the last 6-7 weeks, I would say Jarrad Branthwaite would be up there and playing as well as any English centre-half at the moment, that’s for sure.”
Moyes has offered his advice to Branthwaite ahead of his break with the Under 21s, saying: “I’ve told him go and play really well for the (under) 21s and show Thomas (Tuchel) he should have taken you into the squad.”
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