Moyes defends Fellaini decision

Everton manager David Moyes has reacted angrily to reports he played an unfit Marouane Fellaini in last weekend’s 2-0 win over Sunderland.

The midfielder and joint leading scorer Tim Cahill are both missing for Saturday’s trip to Newcastle United.

“Who would do that? No-one would do it,” Moyes said on Friday.

“We certainly wouldn’t risk Marouane Fellaini, who has been arguably our best player this season. We would never do that, it’s a load of rubbish. We had to hold the boy back from training on the Tuesday and the Thursday but he trained on the Friday.”

Fellaini’s father Abdellatif this week lashed out at the club after the player was ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury he picked up against Chelsea two weeks ago.

“Marouane is really in a desperate state,” Abdellatif Fellaini told Gazet van Antwerpen.

“He should never have played that last game against Sunderland. He should never have been allowed to play because he was already injured.”

Everton have been unable to find steady form this season and Moyes has not been able to identify their problem.

“I’ve been asked if I can put my finger on why we have lacked consistency and I have said no. We want to be more consistent,” he said.

“The game is a chance to get three points. We have 10 or 11 games left of the season and we need to win as many of those as we can. It will be a big test and Newcastle have done well- as have all the teams who were promoted from the Championship at the end of last season.”

“I don’t think anybody has been surprised by Newcastle because they are a big football club and they have done well this season. Alan Pardew has kept things going for them. I have got a lot of respect for Chris Hughton [former Newcastle manager] and the work he did for them.”

“I’m sure Alan also respects him but Alan has taken over now and will be trying to put his own mark on the team.”