Moyes wants Rodwell to push for Cahill’s place

Everton manager David Moyes has warned Australia midfielder Tim Cahill that teenage prodigy Jack Rodwell is pushing for his place.

Rodwell is regarded as one of the best young players in English football after producing impressive displays against Manchester United and Chelsea last season

The 19-year-old is being tipped to win a call-up to the Fabio Capello’s England team in the near future but, such is the strength of Everton’s midfield, he is still to establish himself as regular for Moyes’ men.

Rodwell often has to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench but Moyes feels he has the potential to take over from Cahill, who has become a fans’ favourite at Goodison Park since his move from Millwall in 2004.

Cahill’s priceless ability to score goals from midfield, combined with his work ethic, have made him a key figure for Everton, but the 30-year-old is approaching the age when he might start to lose some of his pace and power and Moyes knows Rodwell is ready to make the step up.

“I see Jack, in a way, pushing Tim Cahill at the moment,” Moyes said. “I think Jack is looking as if he is better, at this present time in his career, at getting forward.

“He can score with his feet, he can score with his head. He is one that will maybe put a bit of pressure on Tim Cahill in coming from deeper in midfield and scoring.

“Young boys take their chance when they get it – Jack Rodwell certainly took his chance and continually improved. He is doing that again this year.

“Jack is a really good player, he is going to be an excellent player.

“We have done well with young players over the years and we will bring them through at the right time and in the right way.”

Moyes will hope his praise for Rodwell, who signed a new five-year contract in the close-season, will also spark Cahill into life after a relatively subdued start to the season.

Everton travel to managerless Aston Villa on Sunday looking for their first league win after a loss at Blackburn and a draw with Wolves.

But Villa are also desperately in need of a positive result after losing 6-0 at Newcastle last weekend and then crashing out of the Europa League in the play-off round against Rapid Vienna on Thursday.

Caretaker boss Kevin McDonald is unsure how long it will be until Villa owner Randy Lerner appoints a replacement for Martin O’Neill, but he insists his players can’t use that uncertainty as a reason for their poor results.

“Their mindset should be in regard to whoever is coming in that they are the best players to stay in that position,” he said.

“A lot of it has got to be of their own pride and if you put the European thing aside we have won one and lost one so we need to try and get another win to go into the international break with six points.

“These lads are very professional. They know what they want to do, they have a lot of pride in themselves. They want to get the right results.”